The Polaris Program is a pioneering initiative designed to advance human spaceflight capabilities rapidly while also raising funds and awareness for critical causes on Earth.
Named after the North Star, Polaris has historically guided navigation on Earth and in the skies.This program aims to demonstrate crucial operational capabilities that will lay the groundwork for further human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Mission led by billionaire Jared Isaacman
This privately funded mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to achieve several historic milestones in space exploration.
Polaris Dawn plans to orbit the Earth at a higher altitude than any astronauts have reached in over 50 years.
First-ever commercial spacewalk
The mission will also feature the first-ever private spacewalk, setting a new benchmark in commercial space travel. Musk confirmed that the mission will not launch before August 26, with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket prepared for liftoff from Florida.
‘Highest Earth orbit ever flown’
The mission is set to achieve new milestones in science and space exploration, targeting the highest Earth orbit ever flown.
700 kilometers above Earth
It will conduct research on spaceflight and the effects of radiation on human health. The spacewalk, taking place approximately 700 kilometers above Earth, will utilise SpaceX-designed EVA spacesuits, marking the first commercial spacewalk in history.
Polaris Dawn to test Starlink’s communications
The Polaris Dawn crew will be the first to test Starlink’s laser-based communication system in space, offering valuable data for developing future communication networks essential for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Mission crew
The crew for the SpaceX mission will feature Jared Isaacman as the mission commander, Scott Poteet as the mission pilot, Sarah Gillis as a mission specialist, and Anna Menon as both a mission specialist and medical officer.
SpaceX collaborates with major institutions for Polaris Dawn mission
SpaceX and Polaris Dawn will also collaborate with several leading institutions, including the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, the 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.