Spacewalk Recap: Scroll down to read updates from the September 12 SpaceX Polaris Dawn spacewalk.
On Wednesday, the crew of Polaris Dawn had traveled further than any human in 52 years, and their Dragon spacecraft lowered down in altitude in preparation for the next mission milestone − the first ever spacewalk by private astronauts wearing a private company's spacesuit.
"We all look forward to our friends at the Artemis to take us to even greater heights," said commander Jared Isaacman as mission control informed the Polaris Dawn crew they had reached 1,400 km (870 miles) above the Earth. He was referring to NASA's Artemis return-to-the-moon plans.
The distance the Polaris Dawn crew reached is the furthers astronauts have traveled since the last Apollo lunar mission in 1972.
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By Wednesday afternoon, the Dragon spacecraft had dropped to approximately 195 x 737 km above Earth in preparation for the spacewalk. The crew had already been breathing an increased amount of oxygen as the cabin pressure slowly decreases. This process ensures excess nitrogen is removed from the crew's bloodstreams, as the pressure difference once suited and exposed to the vacuum of space puts them at risk for decompression sickness.
Isaacman became the first private astronaut to venture outside of a spacecraft, as he held onto the skywalker device installed outside the Dragon spacecraft. Basically a handrail system, Isaacman will hold on to maneuver and stabilize himself − a difficult task while in a pressurized spacesuit in the weightlessness of space.
And, of course, the crew had safety tethers. All this occurred with the Dragon spacecraft still continuing to speed around the Earth at more than 17,000 mph to ensure it stays in orbit.
Sarah Gillis, who is an astronaut trainer for SpaceX, ventured out after Isaacman. The two explored the functioning and maneuverability of the SpaceX suits.
Meanwhile, Polaris Dawn crew members Anna Menon and Scott Poteet remained suited and seated inside the Dragon spacecraft.
Countdown Timer Update 7:59 a.m.: The Polaris Dawn spacewalk is over. The world has seen the first ever spacewalk by private astronauts.
Update 7:55 a.m. : The Dragon spacecraft is now pressurized. The spacewalk is almost complete.
Update 7:40 a.m.: The cabin continues to pressurize, and no leaks have been found. The process is slow, as like in scuba diving, there must be safety stops when changing to a different pressure − as not to overexert the body.
Update 7:30 a.m.: The Dragon spacecraft continues to pressurize without issue. Oxygen is being added into the cabin. Nitrox (Oxygen and Nitrogen mixture) will soon be added to the suits to take the crew out of the pure oxygen environment of the suits.
Update 7:18 a.m. : The SpaceX live stream shows the Dragon spacecraft's pressurization rising.
Update 7:16 a.m.: The Dragon hatch is now closed and sealed. The spacecraft will now be pressurized.
Update 7:14 a.m. : Gillis was heard saying the seal has bulges again. She has popped them back in place and ready to close the hatch.
Update 7:06 a.m.: Sarah Gillis is outside testing the spacesuit. SpaceX employees erupted into cheers to see one of their own preform a spacewalk.
Update 7:04 a.m.: Gillis has observed part of the seal on the hatch popped out, but it can simply be popped in, According to SpaceX.
Update 7:02 a.m. : "Going to stand in the door, and step outside," said Gillis.
Update 7:00 a.m.: Isaacman has moved back inside, stating everything looks good. Next up, Gillis will be heading outside to test the spacesuit.
Update 6:58 a.m.: Isaacman is heard comparing a lot of his experience to the training.
Update 6:53 a.m. : "It looks like a perfect world," commander Isaacman was heard saying.
Update 6:50 a.m. : Isaacman has opened the hatch and is ready to venture outside.
Update 6:42 a.m.: The spacecraft is down to 1 PSI and moving towards vacuum.
Update 6:30 a.m.: We are now seeing cabin venting, which will bring Dragon down to vacuum. According to SpaceX, it will take eight minutes to match the vacuum of space. For the first time in history, all four crew members will technically be on a spacewalk.
Update 6:22 a.m.: The crew just completed leak checks, and are finishing final pre-breath operations before hatch opening. The noise is the flow of air along with the microphones onboard.
Update 6:12 a.m. : The crew all started "go" for spacewalk.
The spacewalk has begun.
Update 6:09 a.m.: SpaceX has given the go to start the spacewalk. The crew's spacesuits are pressurizing.
Update 6:00 a.m.: The SpaceX suits come complete with a heads up display, which displays stats in the crew member's visors. It shows data such as oxygen and temperature. They have approximately one hour and 50 minutes to complete the spacewalk.
There are now live views from the spacecraft. The crew will have helmet cams, giving us live views of what the crew is seeing.
Update 5:55 a.m. : The crew is ready for seat rotation. The seats will be rotated so the crew has more room to move.
Next up: suit leak checks.
Dragon is currently flying over the United States.
Update 5:40 a.m. : In addition to the skywalker, SpaceX added hand and foot rails inside the spacecraft to assist with maneuvering when opening and closing the hatch.
While the Dragon spacecraft is the same one used on Inspiration4 in 2021, the cupola window was replaced with the hatch and skywalker handrail system.
Update 5:32 a.m.: Fun fact: With Polaris Dawn, SpaceX has seen 50 people fly to space on their Dragon spacecraft.
Update 5:25 a.m.: The crew is currently preforming communication checks. We are just over half an hour from expected hatch opening.
Update 5:14 a.m.: The crew is currently getting into their spacesuits.
There will be a leak check before lowering the cabin pressure to vacuum.
While Isaacman and Gillis test the mobility of the spacesuits, Poteet and Menon will remain strapped in their seats and ready to support.
Update 5:11 a.m.: SpaceX shared this video on how the Polaris Dawn crew's Zero G indicator came to be.
Update 4:56 a.m.: The SpaceX live stream is posted above, below the countdown clock.
Update 4:44 a.m.: Everything continues to look good for the upcoming Polaris Dawn spacewalk. The SpaceX live stream will begin at 4:55 a.m. EDT.
Update 1:35 a.m.: SpaceX has announced the spacewalk will now begin at 5:58 a.m. EDT. A reason for the delay was not provided.
SpaceX will begin live coverage one hour prior to the 5:58 a.m. spacewalk.
Update 1:30 a.m.: On top of the Polaris Dawn crew preforming their spacewalk, SpaceX also plans to launch five satellites for AST, in collaboration with AT&T, this coming morning from Cape Canaveral − that's if weather cooperates.
There is currently no update on the progress of the Polaris Dawn spacewalk.
Update 1:18 a.m.: In response to Isaacman's shoutout to Artemis II, set to surpass their distance traveled, NASA's Artemis team replied to the footage posted to X, "We are going! ❤️ Go Polaris!"
Update 1:12 a.m. : That's not a sight you see everyday. SpaceX shared this amazing video of an orbital sunset from the crew's spacecraft.
Update 1:00 a.m.: The crew has been keeping busy! The Polaris Program gave an update earlier and shared video of crew activities. On top of medical experiments that look at how the body adapts to spaceflight, the crew met with Folds of Honor and Menon gave a reading of her book, Kisses from Space.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Polaris Dawn spacewalk recap: SpaceX crew ventured outside Dragon on spacewalk
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