Launched on September 10, 2024, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Polaris Dawn mission aimed to push the boundaries of private space exploration12. The five-day orbital expedition featured a crew of four non-professional astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule3. Notable achievements of the mission include:

• Reaching a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers), the highest for a crewed mission since the Apollo era14

• Conducting 36 scientific experiments, including tests on contact lenses with embedded microelectronics4

• Evaluating laser-based satellite communication between the spacecraft and SpaceX's Starlink constellation54

• Exposing the crew to the Van Allen radiation belt to study its effects on human health4

Jared Isaacman, the 41-year-old billionaire CEO of Shift4 Payments, led the Polaris Dawn mission as its commander and primary funder12. With an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion, Isaacman has a background in aviation, boasting about 6,000 hours of flying experience2. Sarah Gillis, a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX, joined Isaacman in performing the historic spacewalk13. The crew also included:

• Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, serving as mission pilot

• Anna Menon, another SpaceX engineer, acting as mission specialist and medical officer

All four crew members underwent more than two years of rigorous training, including skydiving, centrifuge exercises, scuba diving, and even summiting an Ecuadorian volcano to prepare for the challenges of space4.

The spacewalk served as a crucial test for SpaceX's newly developed extravehicular activity (EVA) suits. These advanced spacesuits feature heads-up displays, helmet cameras, and an improved joint mobility system12. Designed with future long-duration missions in mind, the suits are intended to be scalable for potential use on the Moon and Mars1. During the EVA, Isaacman and Gillis conducted mobility tests, evaluating the suits' performance in the vacuum of space while remaining tethered to the Dragon capsule via 12-foot umbilical cords that provided air, power, and communications34.

The successful private spacewalk marks a significant step towards SpaceX's ambitious goals of lunar and Martian exploration. As part of the broader Polaris program, this mission aims to develop technologies crucial for future long-duration spaceflights1. The achievement aligns with NASA's objective of fostering a vibrant U.S. space economy, with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailing it as "a giant leap forward for the commercial space industry"2. By demonstrating the feasibility of private spacewalks and testing new spacesuit designs, SpaceX is paving the way for more extensive commercial space activities, including potential bases on the Moon and cities on Mars13.