Polaris Dawn Now Targeting NET July 31st For Launch

The highly anticipated first Polaris Program mission, Polaris Dawn has been delayed a couple of weeks. Initially scheduled for July 12 , Jared Isaacman, Commander of the Polaris Dawn mission in a recent X comment confirmed the mission was going to be delayed.

"Won't make that date, but feeling good about July. Official update soon enough. Thanks!" - Jared Isaacman, Polaris Dawn Commander

On Wednesday a new NET target date for liftoff was published on https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/ stating no earlier than July 31, 2024.

This adjustment comes as the mission team ensures all preparations are meticulously completed.

Mission Overview

Launching from Florida, the Polaris Dawn mission aims to push the boundaries of human spaceflight. The Dragon spacecraft and its crew will spend up to five days in orbit, pursuing several groundbreaking objectives that promise to advance our understanding of space and prepare humanity for future exploration.

High Altitude Endeavors

One of the mission's primary goals is to achieve the highest Earth orbit ever flown by a Dragon spacecraft. By leveraging the maximum performance of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon, Polaris Dawn will venture through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt. This journey will enable crucial research on the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health, contributing valuable data for future deep-space missions.

Pioneering Commercial Spacewalk

In a historic first, the crew will attempt a commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) at approximately 700 kilometers above Earth. Equipped with SpaceX-designed EVA spacesuits, the astronauts will test these suits’ capabilities in the vacuum of space. These suits, upgraded from the current intravehicular (IVA) suits, represent a significant step towards developing scalable spacesuits essential for building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars.

In-Space Communications

Polaris Dawn will also break new ground in space communications by being the first crew to test Starlink’s laser-based communications in orbit. This experiment will provide critical insights into the functionality of space-based communication systems, which are vital for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Health Impact Research

The mission includes a comprehensive scientific agenda designed to advance our understanding of human health in space and on Earth. Key research activities include:

• Monitoring Venous Gas Emboli (VGE): Using ultrasound technology, the crew will monitor, detect, and quantify VGE to contribute to decompression sickness studies.

• Radiation Environment Analysis: Gathering data on space radiation’s impact on human biological systems.

• Multi-Omics Biobank Contributions: Providing biological samples for long-term health studies.

• Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) Research: Investigating SANS, a significant health risk in long-duration spaceflights.

Collaborations and Enhancements

SpaceX and Polaris Dawn are collaborating with prestigious institutions such as the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, Space Technologies Lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The EVA suit enhancements include improved mobility, a state-of-the-art helmet heads-up display (HUD) and camera, and new thermal management textiles. These innovations are part of a scalable design aimed at accommodating different body types, thereby enhancing accessibility to space for all humanity.

As SpaceX continues to advance its technology and capabilities, the Polaris Dawn mission represents a significant step towards making life multiplanetary. The development and successful deployment of the EVA suit and the execution of the commercial spacewalk will be crucial milestones in achieving long-duration missions and establishing human presence on other celestial bodies.

With the revised launch date set for no earlier than July 31, anticipation builds for the Polaris Dawn mission to make history and pave the way for the future of space exploration.