Title: SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission: First commercial EVA, 10-15 September 2024 (Ren@art, SpaceX, 2024).
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission launched to orbit on 10 September 2024 and splashed down five days later in the Caribbean, completing a visit to orbit that involved various science experiments and the first commercial Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA). The crew flew on board the Dragon Capsule, which was part of a rocket system built by Space Exploration Technologies, Inc. (SpaceX).
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Updates
21 Feb 2025: Isaacman to run NASA.20 Feb 2025: A private mission.
27 Sep 2024: Earth views from Dragon.
15 Sep 2024: Splash down.
Background
Polaris Dawn Mission.EVA Spacesuit.
Science experiments.
Polaris Dawn Crew.
Dragon Spacecraft.
Polaris Dawn's launch, 10 Sep 2024.
Isaacman and Hubble Telescope.
UPDATES
Jared Isaacman to run US space programme – 21 February 2025
Micah Maidenberg reported in The Wall Street Journal that billionaire and SpaceX Polaris Dawn commander astronaut Jared Isaacman was proposed by President Donald Trump to run The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA is a 70-year-old organisation with a $25 billion budget that has struggled in recent years to deliver some high-profile projects.
Jared Isaacman, SpaceX astronaut.(Reuters, 2025).
Isaacman has ties to SpaceX as an investor, customer and through his payments company “Shift4”, a contractor, is likely to face scrutiny should the appointment be confirmed. Shift4 has generated $3.3 billion in revenue in 2024 and has a stock-market value of about $9 billion. Isaacman owns 25% of SpaceX common stock having purchased $28 billion of its shares in 2021. That year, Shift4 started a 5-year contract to handle payments for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network.
SpaceX capsules are the only American vehicles certified to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), a contract that has won $15 billion in deals with NASA over the years (Maidenberg, 2025).
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A transformative private mission – 20 February 2025
Mackenzie Ferguson analysed the impact of SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission on public perception and the private world, reporting the view of the Wall Street Journal: The Polaris Dawn mission, led by SpaceX and Jared Isaacman, marked a transformative chapter in space exploration by achieving historic milestones such as the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo era and the first commercial spacewalk, in collaboration with NASA. This mission not only advanced scientific and technological goals but also set a precedent for commercial space travel, demonstrating its viability and inspiring new possibilities.
The success of Polaris Dawn sparks a broader discussion on the evolving role of private companies in space exploration, which was once an exclusively governmental arena. This collaboration between SpaceX and NASA exemplifies a shift towards a more integrated space industry, where commercial missions contribute significantly to scientific research and exploration, democratizing access to space, and bringing about new economic opportunities and innovative approaches to extend the reach of human civilization.
Critics of the mission perceived the spacewalk as underwhelming as the members did not exit the capsule completely. It was seen as a loss of opportunity and a lame and boring activity that was poorly covered due to limited camara angles (Ferguson, 2025).
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Views of the Earth from orbiting Dragon – 27 September 2024
The Dragon capsule completed 75 orbits around Earth, during which, the camera mounted on the inside of the hinged opened nose cone of the capsule captured amazing views.
In an Eastward journey, the video show the capsule travelling over Lakes Balkhash and Alakol in Kazakhstan, the latter close to the Eastern border with China. The orbit continues North-Easterly with a view of Lake Qinghai in China. This is followed by images of the Strait of Gibraltar that separates Spain from the Northern coast of Africa, and finally a view of Corsica Island in Italy.
Dragon’s view from orbit (insert) and satellite view of Lakes Alakol (left) and Balkhash (right) in Kazakhstan.Note: The map is oriented with the North downwards to match the view from Dragon (see compass, top-right)
(SpaceX, Google-Earth, 27 September 2024).
Dragon’s view from orbit (insert) and satellite view of Lake Qinghai in China.Note: The map is oriented with the North downwards to match the view from Dragon (see compass, top-right)
(SpaceX, Google-Earth, 27 September 2024).
Dragon’s view from orbit (insert) and satellite view of the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Africa.Note: The map is oriented with the North downwards to match the view from Dragon (see compass, top-right)
(SpaceX, Google-Earth, 27 September 2024).
Dragon’s view from orbit (insert) and satellite view of the Island of Corsica, Italy.Note: The map is oriented with the North downwards to match the view from Dragon (see compass, top-right)
(SpaceX, Google-Earth, 27 September 2024).
Watch the video: Views from Dragon in flight during Polaris Dawn, posted by SpaceX (4.5min):
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Splash down - 15 September 2024
Polaris Dawn crew bracing for splash-down (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission concluded with the crew returning to Earth after a five-day trip to orbit. Dragon Endeavour safely splashed down at 3.36 hr on 15 September 2024 off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, USA.
The mission successfully performed the first commercial Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) and reached an altitude of 1,400 km, which is higher than any human has flown since 1972 in the final Apollo mission.
During re-entry, the Dragon Capsule was exposed to temperature of around 1,900 Centigrade caused by friction against air particles at a speed of 27,000 kph.
Mission
While in orbit, the crew performed more than 40 scientific experiments and in another first, specialist Sarah Gillis, a trained violinist, played “Ray’s Theme” from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens," alongside orchestras on earth, located in the United States, Sweden, Haiti, Uganda, Venezuela and Brazil. This was a testament to the high transmission speeds achieved using the intersatellite laser network Starlink.
Sarah Gillis from orbit and 6 groups around the world performed Rey’s Theme in a combined live broadcast (SpaceX, 14 Sep 2024).
Sarah Gillis synchronised via Starlink playing Rey’s Theme with an orchestra in USA (SpaceX, 14 Sep 2024).
Close up of Sarah Gillis playing violin from the Dragon capsule in orbit (SpaceX, 14 Sep 2024).
Watch Sarah Gillis and the world orchestras performance of Ray’s Theme (4min):
The highlight of the mission was the testing of the EVA Spacesuits and the EVA performed by Jared and Sarah on 12 September 2024 while Dragon was on orbit at an altitude of 700km travelling in a 184x736 km orbit around the earth. The whole capsule was depressurised, and all astronauts wore their new pressurised suits while Commander Jared Isaacman and mission specialist Sarah Gillis ventured outside the Dragon capsule, becoming the first non-professional crew to perform a spacewalk. They used the Spacewaker structure to exit the capsule for a total of 1hr40min.
Jared Isaacman ventures into space in an EVA in orbit (SpaceX, 15 September 2024).
Webcast
The webcast followed the events live after Dragon prepared for return to Earth. The Crew Operations and Resources Engineer (CORE) based in the Mission Control room at Hawthorne, California called out the events throughout the descent, while Engineers Kate Tice and Jessie Anderson presented the webcast.
Splashdown Webcast hosts: Kate Tice and Jessie Anderson (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Preparations for return from orbit
Preparations for de-orbit begun the day before splash-down to gradually decrease the capsule’s altitude and then enter the atmosphere, to finally splash-down on the Atlantic Ocean.
- Two Downhill Face-burns to lower the Dragon’s altitude (Sat 14 Sep 2024).
- The crew continued with experiments and had dinner before going to sleep.
- In the morning of 15th, the crew donned their spacesuits to prepare their descent.
- Separation of Dragon Spacecraft from the Trunk, which is connected to the Aft or bottom section of the capsule, where the heatshield is located.
- After separation, Dragon runs on battery power.
- Deorbit burn, using 4 bulkhead thrusters located under the nosecone.
- Lock nosecone in preparation for re-entry.
- Comms loss for 7 minutes as dragon passes through the atmosphere and plasma becomes dense, interfering with communications to and from the capsule.
- Drogue parachutes deploy 2 minutes after renewing communications. They will slow down and stabilise Dragon.
- Release of 4 main parachutes. Together with the drogues, the parachutes bring down the velocity of descent from 560 to 25 kph in 3 minutes.
- Free flight and trajectory adjustment for splashdown.
During free flight, the Dragon can change its direction using thrusters to splashdown closer to one of the 7 support sites located around the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and in Florida to cover the Atlantic Ocean. They are all identically prepared to receive the crew. They are also alternatives in case of having to Wave Off and change location due to bad weather. In a Wave Off scenario, Dragon would remain in orbit until the next landing attempt.
Stages of Polaris Dawn mission’s return to Earth (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Polaris Dawn’s crew transmission from orbit (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Infrared images of Polaris Dawn’s Dragon capsule deploying drone-parachutes (left) andfull parachutes (centre) before splashdown at night (right) (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Recovery boat waiting for splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean on a moonlit night.The boat has a Helipad (right) to airlift astronauts to land (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Dragon capsule on the ocean in a moonlit night as ribbed-boat approaches (bottom left) (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Small boats approach the Dragon capsule on a moonlit night (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Boat operators secure a tether around the Dragon capsule to tow her to the recovery vessel (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Operator jumping off Dragon after securing a crane tether to lift the capsule onto her nest on the recovery boat (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
The Polaris Dawn Crew salute after a successful mission and splashdown onboard the Dragon capsule (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Sarah Gillis salutes as she emerges from the Dragon capsule (SpaceX, 15 Sep 2024).
Visit SpaceX’s website to watch the full "Polaris Dawn Mission Return" webcast (2hr):
Click the red Play button to open SpaceX’s “Polaris Dawn” page and watch the return flight podcast (SpaceX, 15 September 2024).(Opens in a new tab/window)
END of UPDATES
BACKGROUND (Written in Sep 2024)
Polaris Dawn Mission
Polaris Dawn Patch (SpaceX, 2024).
In the summer of 2024, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Polaris Dawn mission from Florida, USA. The Polaris Dawn crew of four will spend up to five days in orbit with four main objectives:
- High altitude flight: The Dragon capsule will reach the highest altitude at 1,400 km and orbit through parts of the Van Allen radiation belt.
- Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA): Returning to an altitude of 700km, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis will attempt the firs all civilian spacewalk, while the pilot and medical officer remain in the capsule. Everyone will wear pressurised EVA newly designed suits because the capsule will be depressurised for the EVA.
- Starlink communication: The crew will test the Starlink laser-based communication satellite network for high-speed data transfer.
- Research on health: The crew will conduct around 40 science experiments in 5 days.
More details of these objectives follow below.
Mission plan
The Polaris Dawn crew will orbit for 5 days before splashing down off the coast of Florida. The crew aimed at performing the first ever commercial spacewalk in the newly designed EVA spacesuit, they will also attempt to reach the highest altitude of all Drago missions at 1,400 km, higher than the record set by Gemini 11 50 years ago. They will test the Starlink laser-based communications network in space. The crew will also conduct a wide range of science experiments (detailed below).
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA)
The first all-civilian EVA required extensive research and development of technology that has been evolving with progressive missions and tests. The Dragon capsule does not have a compression & decompression chamber; therefore, the whole capsule needs to be decompressed before opening the hatch to expose the crew to the vacuum of space. This means that all astronauts will need to wear pressurised suits and while two of them go out through the port, the remaining two will operate the vehicle and respond should an immediate action be necessary, they will manage the umbilical cords and remain alert for alarms. The medical officer will remain in the capsule and remain alert for signs of Decompression Sickness that are possible when the crew re-compress after the EVA.
The crew trained for decompression and recompression at the Hyperbaric chamber at Johnson Space Centre in Huston to ensure they do not experience decompression sickness. And used a sideways simulator to practice manual closure of the hatch and a vertical lift to simulate EVA.
Polaris Dawn crew wearing spacesuit, practicing closure of the hatch while suspended (SpaceX, 2024).
Polaris Dawn crew in the hyperbaric chamber (left), and during physiological monitoring (SpaceX, 2024).
EVA Spacesuit
Polaris Dawn will test the new Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Spacesuit, designed by SpaceX as an evolution from the Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) Spacesuit used in previous Dragon missions.
The spacesuits are designed and built at SpaceX, Hawthorn, California and the design team include Chris Trigg, Senior Manager; Erik Kraus, Principal Engineer; Maria Sundeen, Fabrication Manager. The design goal is to make a product that can be scaled to fit different body types. With extensibility in mid, the materials and features will change in the future adjusting to the needs of the missions.
The EVA suit provides the following enhancements over the IVA suite (more details below):
- Helmet: It was re-designed to provide stronger protection and resistance to higher extremes of temperatures.
- Visor: The new helmet has a Polycarbonate visor has a coating of Copper and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) on the outside, and an anti-fog treatment on the inside. It provides thermal insulation and protection from bright light. The outer coating reflects sunlight and the inner one reflects infrared heat back to the crew.
- Heads-Up Display (HUD) and Camera: Heads-Up Display (HUD) and Camera.
- Fabric: The flame-resistant elastic outer layer provides greater mobility and strength. The new Feraday layer that creates an inductive cage that shields the suit from electric fields. It has been tested for micro-meteorite impact.
- Mobility: Semi-rigid rotator joints with bearings remain soft even under pressure to allow for rotation of the arms at the shoulder. Improved flexure joints at the elbows, wrists, waist, knees and ankles, and improved fore-arm mobility for pronation and supination of the hands.
- IVA & EVA: Redundant helmet seals, lockouts on latching mechanisms and internal valves improve the tolerance of the suit when operating under pressure, e.g. 5.1 psia (pounds per square inch absolute) during EVAs and has redundance for oxygen system.
- Thermal management: A thermal garment material regulates the suit temperature while remaining elastic. A dial on the suit’s umbilical control allows adjustment of cooling and oxygen delivery. Tested for + and – 250 degrees Celsius.
- Zippers: Spiral zippers at the waist ease in and out of the suit. Forearm zippers allow more mobility when the gloves are removed.
- Boots: Provide thermal protection in extreme heat and cold remaining flexible. They are made of the same material used in Dragon’s trunk and Falcon’s interstage.
Comparison of the Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) suit on the left, to the Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) one worn in previous Dragon missions(SpaceX, 2024).
Watch a summary of the main features of the EVA (1min).
IVA Spacesuit
The Dragon missions required an Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) Spacesuit, which had the following main characteristics:
- Helmet: Customised padding incorporates microphones and valves for pressure control.
- Visor: Large field of view and rotates to open.
- Fabric: Grey panels made of Nomex and white panels of Teflon, both flame-resistant.
- Zippers: On the wrists to use bare hands when needed. zippers inside the legs from ankle to ankle to ease getting into the suit.
- Gloves: Designed to manipulate controls and touchscreens inside the vehicle even when pressurised.
- Simple plug in: The suit connects easily to the vehicle to ensure communications, cooling, pressurisation and avionics.
Science in Orbit
In the 5 days in space, the crew will conduct 45 scientific experiments designed by 31 partner institutions around the world. The following are the most engaging:
- Butterfly Portable Ultrasound Head designed to detect Venous Gas Emboli (VGE), the main cause of Decompression Sickness (DCS) that affects those that come back from a compression environment, like during EVAs.
- Radiation environment data gathering, to determine radiation exposure and how it affects astronauts.
- Biological sample collection for analysis and to build-up a long-term Biobank.
- Serum calcium measurements looking for early indications of increase in blood calcium due to loss of bone density, which could be linked to kidney calcium stones.
- Imaging of bone density to determine early changes in calcium density.
- Space-Optimised Plant Habitat Inter Array (SOPHIA), developed by the Space Academy to study the response of plant growth in microgravity and exposure to magnetic fields.
- Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) research measurements, to advance the understanding of pressure changes within the brain and nervous system that comes with long duration spaceflight (see details below).
- Airway imaging with portable endoscope to examine nasal and throat passages in flight.
- Tempest-pro device, to collect medical data like blood pressure, blood oxygen partial pressure, electro-cardiogram and other physiological measurements.
SANS experiment
Contact lenses to test the eye’s pressure.(SpaceX, 2024).
The Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) affects 50% of the astronauts who have a rough time adapting to space regardless of their physical condition or experience as pilots. It has to do with liquid distribution shifts within the body and in certain cases an increase of pressure in the nervous system. Travel sickness is common and even with medication
So far, Intra-Cranial Pressure (ICP) measured before and after the missions was found to elevate even after 2 weeks in space. Direct measurement of ICP can only be done in clinical environments because it requires the aseptic insertion of a probe into the spine under local anaesthesia. A delicate procedure that if poorly performed can cause paralysis or even sudden death if there is sudden loss of pressure
Pupillometer and Quick-C device.(SpaceX, 2024).
Scott Poteet, lead of the SANS experiment, volunteered to receive the first invasive ICP monitoring device approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after being in use for Hydrocephalous patients in Europe. Implanting this device involved a surgery to his back to introduce a catheter into his spine to constantly measure the pressure of the spinal fluid. Unfortunately, the attempt to insert the catheter into Scott’s spine did not go well and they decided to remove the implant
As part of this experiment, the crew will also test a novel method of monitoring Intra-Ocular Pressure (IOP) wearing a hard contact lens and goggles with a reader. Pressure inside the eyes is independent from the pressure around the brain but it is not known if this is altered during spaceflight
They will also test a Pupillometer and a Quick-C measurement device that measures the diameter of the pupil and the length of the eyeball (distance from the transparent front or cornea to the back wall of the eyeball).
Polaris Dawn Crew
The all-civilian crew of four is composed of the following highly talented individuals:
- Jared Isaacman (Commander, call sign: Rook): Jared is a pilot with more than 7,000 flight hours on experimental and military aircraft. He was commander of SpaceX mission Inspiration 4, the first all-civilian mission to space that launched in September 2021. In 2011 he co-founded the world’s largest air force, Draken International, to train pilots of the US Armed Forces. He is the CEO of the integrated payment processing solutions company Shift4. Through his flight experience he helped raise over US$240 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to eradicate childhood cancer and earlier for the Make a Wish Foundation. Jared also holds 2 around the world speed record flights in 2008 and 2009 that he performed for charities. He has flow in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team and has over 7000 flight hours. Originally from Bernards Township, New Jersey, USA. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
- Scott Poteet (Pilot, call sign: Kidd): Scott is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) Lieutenant Colonel with 20-year experience serving in aviation, including as Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, Demonstrator pilot of Thunderbird 4, Weapons school graduate, Operation Test & Evaluation pilot and Flight Examiner. He has 3,200 flying hours in various fighter planes and 400 hours of combat time. He worked for Draken International and Shift4. He was mission director of SpaceX’s Inspiration 4. He is a triathlete that competed in 15 Ironman triathlons since 2000. Originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA. He graduated from the University of Hampshire.
- Sarah Gillis (Specialist): Sarah is Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX where she oversees astronaut training for NASA, SpaceX Dragon an Inspiration 4. She supported Dragon’s cargo resupply missions as navigation officer and crew communicator for Dragon’s human spaceflight missions. She is an Aerospace Engineering graduate from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is a hiker, climber and adventurer.
- Anna Menon (Specialist & Medical Officer): Anna is Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX. She manages the development of crew operations and serves as Mission Director and crew communicator for multiple Dragon missions. She designed many of the contingency procedures that they will use during the flight. She was the Family Liaison for Inspiration 4 in 2021. Anna worked at NASA as biomedical flight controller for ISS helping integrate engineers and medical care. She has a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and Mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University. She is a hiker and pilot of small planes. Originally from Huston, Texas.
Extended profiles of the crew members are available at Polarisprogram.com.
Dragon Spacecraft
The crew will travel onboard the Dragon Spacecraft, which was used repeatedly to take astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and the first to take civilian crews to space, in addition, it is the only capsule capable of bringing back significant amounts of cargo back to Earth.
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule main parts.(SpaceX, BBC, 2024).
Before Polaris Dawn, SpaceX launched the Dragon Spacecraft 46 time in 13 human spaceflight missions, which flew 50 crew members, representing 14 countries. It has flown more than 1000 scientific experiment. With missions like Inspiration 4 and Polaris Dawn, Dragon is laying the path to deep space exploration, where humans will adapt and live in space.
The Dragon Spacecraft is an 8m high and 4m wide capsule, able to carry 7 passengers. The capsule sits on top of the Trunk, which is the cylindrical portion that carries non-pressurised cargo. Half of the trunk is covered in solar panels that provide power during flight. The trunk is detached from the capsule shortly before re-entry. Dragon has 16 Draco Thrusters used to orient the vehicle in space. Each thruster can generate 40 kg of force in the vacuum. It also has 8 Super-Draco thrusters that power the spacecraft escape system. In case of an emergency, they can power the vehicle up to 1km away from the launch vehicle in less than 8 seconds.
This Dragon spacecraft is named Resilience and she first carried NASA’s Crew-1 mission, and then the Inspiration 4 mission, which was also commanded by Jared Isaacman. This time, the spacecraft was outfitted with a Skywalker port in place of the transparent Cupula observation dome or the docking port. This is mounted on the top of Dragon and the astronauts will use this for exiting and re-entering the spacecraft. Additional nitrogen and oxygen tanks were also installed.
This mission is the first to attempt to use the Starlink network while in orbit. It has a router connected to a user terminal, which will be linked to a new device, the Plugin Plazer, which enables connection with Starlink satellites that are in orbit below Dragon.
Dragon’s port variations. Polaris Dawn used the Skywalker modality (SpaceX, 2024).
Dragon’s heatshield after re-entry (top), and during build at the factory(SpaceX, 2024).
Dragon’s heatshield is composed of Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) 3.0. The first generation of this material was developed by NASA for studying and sampling comets within our solar system. PICA X was the second-generation material created through a partnership of NASA and SpaceX to outfit Dragon 1 that took crew to the ISS. PICA 3.0 was developed for Dragon 2.
The remainder of the Dragon capsule is composed of a SpaceX Proprietary Ablative Material (SPAM), a lighter material with thermal resistance. The combination of these materials protects Dragon from temperatures of over 1,600 degrees Celsius at re-entry into the atmosphere, travelling at 28,000 kph or Mach 25 (25 faster than the speed of sound).
During this precipitous descent, the crew would feel a gradual increase in their body weight as gravity augments, and the waving movement of the capsule as the Draco thrusters correct her orientation. Only at lower altitudes they would hear the wind and a pop with the deployment of the Drogue Parachutes, followed by an upward tug when the Main Parachutes open. After that, it would go silent until splashdown.
Falcon-9 Rocket
Dragon will be delivered to orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon-9. The first orbital rocket capable of re-flight which allows to re-use the most expensive parts of the rocket. This rocket has been tested in action.
Falcon 9 Rocket’s integrated stages and Dragon(SpaceX, 2024).
The Falcon 9 system has performed 369 orbital launches, 326 landings and 300 re-flights. The rocket has a height of 65.5m and thanks to its 9 Merlin MMB engines, it provides 771 tonnes of thrust.
This buster launched and landed 9 times already and has supported NASA’s Crew 8 mission and 2 Starlink missions. After launch, and once it completes its function, the first stage will separate from the second and flip to the opposite direction of travel and perform the first burn to slow down the rocket before re-entry (re-entry burn). It will continue in a controlled fall, using its Aerodynamic guidance grill flaps. It will steer towards a Landing drone platform named “Just read the instructions” stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Just before vertical landing, the Falcon 9 will perform the Landing Burn to decelerate further.
The rocket has 4 landing legs made of carbon fibre with an aluminium honeycomb, placed symmetrically around the base. They are retracted during ascent and will deploy just before landing.
The Second stage has a single Merlin Vacuum (M-vac) Engine, capable of delivering 100 tonnes of thrust, highly efficient and can be started multiple times depending on the desired altitude while in orbit.
The composite inner stage that connects the first to the second stage houses the pneumatic pushers that help with separation. At the base of the Inner Stage are the Hypersonic Grid-fins that help orient the first stage during re-entry.
Launch of Polaris Dawn, 10 September 2024
The Polaris Dawn mission launched on Tue 10 September on a Falcon 9 rocket system and reached low-Earth orbit successfully.
Following numerous delays, the weather window or opportunity for launch opened on Tuesday 10 September 2024 when SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission launched and successfully reached low-Earth orbit.
The crew of four launched on board the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA.
This was SpaceX’s 5th Dragon mission flying civilians to orbit and overall, the 14th human spaceflight mission since 2020. This mission is one step more to make humans multi-planetary.
Webcast of Polaris Dawn's launch, 10 Sep 2024
The webcast for the Polaris Dawn mission was presented by SpaceX staff at Hawthorne, California: Kate Tice, Senior Quality Systems Manager, Jessie Anderson, Senior Manufacturing Engine Manager, Atticus Vadera, Propulsion Engineer, and John Insprucker, Principle Integration Engineer.
Kate Tice and Jessie Anderson, hosts of the Polaris Dawn Launch webcast, 10 September 2024 (SpaceX, 2024).
The goal of the programme is to demonstrate operational capabilities to further space exploration. Polaris Dawn is the first mission of the Polaris programme, which consists of 3 human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct research and culminate in the flight of SpaceX Starship with humans on board.
Launch Sequence
- Wakeup 7 hours before launch.
- Medical checks.
- Meeting with families for a final goodbye.
- Transport on Tesla vehicles to Falcon support building.
- Weather briefing and collect computer tablets for the flight.
- Suit-up at 3.45 minutes before launch. They will wear the new EVA Spacesuits.
- Crew walk from Falcon support building onto the Tesla vehicles to go to launch pad.
Polaris Dawn crew walkout from Falcon Support Building (top).Astronauts onboard their transport Teslas on their way to the launch pad (SpaceX, 2024).
Teslas arriving at the launch platform. The two silver doors lead to the lifts to the ingress arm of the tower, 80m high (top).The crew pose for a last photograph on the ground (SpaceX, 2024).
- Lift to 80-metre level where they make a final call before walking down the Access Arm.
- White room is last stop.
- Crew Ingress into the Dragon capsule. Checks of suits, seats and vehicle interaction systems.
Last steps after the lift, “Ninja” assistants (left). Last phone call home (SpaceX, 2024).
Walk along the Access Arm (left). Wall of astronaut signatures in the white room, next to capsule ingress (SpaceX, 2024).
Two astronauts on their seats while the last two are in the white room, ready for ingress (SpaceX, 2024).
- Close out team will Close the Hatch once all checks are completed.
- Retraction of the Crew Arm at 40min before launch.
- Arming of launch escape system.
- Propellant loading of Falcon 9: RP-1 Kerosene for both stages and Liquid Oxygen onto the first stage.
The Dragon’s Draco engines require a fuel and an oxidiser for combustion: The fuel is Mono Metal Hydrazine (MMH) and the oxidiser is Nitrogen Tetroxide (NTL). - Terminal countdown commences 5 minutes before launch. Dragon computers take control of the spacecraft.
- At countdown 0.00 Falcon 9 lifts off.
Polaris Dawn lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA (SpaceX, 10 September 2024).
Lift off to orbit
Once the crew have taken their places in the capsule, their seats are tilted to a reclined Launch Position, with their feet higher than their trunks, which helps tolerate the 3.5G of acceleration that they will experience during the first and second stages of ascent.
A successful launch would go through the following milestones:
- Ascent up to separation altitude.
- Separation of first from second stage.
- First stage entry burn to return to the surface.
- First stage landing burn to complete vertical landing on the drone-ship named “Just read the instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Second stage ascend to deliver Dragon into orbit.
- Separation of second stage from Dragon.
- Dragon in orbit.
As Polaris Dawn crew entered orbit, Lauch Director Frank Messina (also director for Inspiration 4) gave some endearing words to welcome them to orbit.
Polaris Dawn crew on their capsule seats, ready to launch (SpaceX, 2024).
Polaris Dawn crew during ascent (SpaceX, 2024).
Falcon 9’s first stage de-orbit burn to descend to earth (left). Second stage continues ascent to orbit (SpaceX, 2024).
Falcon 9’s first stage lands successfully on a drone ship (SpaceX, 2024).
Isaacman and Hubble Space Telescope
Jared Isaacman offered to help financially the extend the life of the Hubble telescope whose mission has expired and is nearing natural deorbit by 2028, meaning that it is approaching the atmosphere and will end burning out, although it is predicted that parts of the mirror and support structure may survive and potentially fall over inhabited areas.
The last Space Shuttle mission in 2009 installed a Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM) for an optional crewed or robotic mission to safely de-orbit the telescope in a controlled manner but no plans have been formalised.
In 2020, NASA and SpaceX agreed to investigate the possibility to use a Dragon mission to service Hubble, but they do not have the expertise to perform the mission. There was a controversy regarding SpaceX willingness to accept risks, which is different than NASA’s. After a failure of another gyroscope in June 2024 (only one left working), NASA rejected the option of a private servicing mission.
Upcoming Dragon missions
Fram 2, due to launch in December 2024, will conduct research of the polar regions of the Earth looking through the Dragon’s Cupola used in the Inspiration-4 mission. Departing near the December solstice, the crew expects an optimal observation of Antarctica from 450 km of altitude. This will be the 6th commercial astronaut mission.
REFERENCES
» Ferguson M (2025) Polaris Dawn: Charting New Frontiers with the First-Ever Commercial Spacewalk! Opentools.ai. [Online video]. Available at Opentools.ai. Accessed: 23 February 2025.
» Howell E (2024) Meet the four private Polaris Dawn astronauts SpaceX will launch into orbit this year. Space.com [Online]. Available at Space.com. Accessed: 10 July 2024.
» Maidenberg M (2025) The Thrill-Seeking Billionaire and SpaceX Astronaut Poised to Run NASA. The Wall Street Journal, 21 February 2025 [Online]. Available at The Wall Street Journal. Accessed: 25 February 2025.
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