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New York Post
Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman steps out in space for first-ever private spacewalk after traveling farther than any man has gone in 50 years
By Ronny Reyes, Emily Crane,
5 hours ago
Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman became the first civilian to start a spacewalk early Thursday — after already traveling the farthest from Earth a human being has gone since the Apollo moon missions.
Footage of the daring stunt showed Isaacman, 41, popping out of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule on a tether as he came face to face with the dark vacuum of space just before 7 a.m.
“Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman said soon after emerging from the spacecraft with the planet glittering below him.
Jared Isaacman, 41, popped out of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule on a tether as he came face to face with the dark vacuum of space just before 7 a.m. Thursday. Reuters
After about 15 minutes outside, Isaacman was replaced by SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis to go through the same motions. She was slated to be following by two other crew members: engineer Anna Menon and former Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet.
Their maneuvers were being streamed live on SpaceX’s website.
The spacewalk was scheduled to last roughly 30 minutes, but the procedures to prepare for it and to finish it safely were expected to last about two hours.
Prior to popping open the hatch and emerging, Isaacman and his three crew members were spotted waiting inside until the capsule was completely depressurized.
SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis was pictured on her way out of the capsule to walk in space. AP The spacewalk was scheduled to last roughly 30 minutes, but the procedures to prepare for it and to finish it safely were expected to last about two hours. SpaceX “Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman said soon after emerging from the spacecraft with the planet glittering below him. SpaceX
It comes after SpaceX suddenly delayed the planned start of the spacewalk by a few hours. No explanation was immediately given for the delay, but the company said via X that “all systems are looking good.”
Isaacman and his three crew members began preparing for the endeavor soon after blasting into orbit on Tuesday for a five-day flight.
They were kept safe during the two-hour mission thanks to the new SpaceX suits he helped design.
Billionaire Jared Isaacman became the first person in history to conduct a private spacewalk Thursday. Polaris Program / John Kraus Isaacman was accompanied by Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Polaris Program/John Kraus / SWNS Prior to popping open the hatch and emerging, Isaacman and his three crew members were spotted waiting inside until the capsule was completely depressurized. AP
Officials had said Isaacman, the billionaire CEO and founder of the credit card processing company Shift4, would remain tethered and keep at least one hand or foot on the craft to ensure his safety.
A longer, untethered spacewalk was not possible because only NASA suits are currently equipped with jetpacks that can guide an astronaut back to safety.
Because the Crew Dragon does not have a pressurized airlock, all the crew members needed to wear the new spacesuits to protect them from the vacuum conditions during the mission.
Isaacman, the CEO and founder of the credit card processing company Shift4, has paid for three trips to the stars with SpaceX. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK The Polaris Dawn blasted off from Florida Tuesday for its five-day trek to space. Getty Images
Gills was scheduled to join Isaacman on the spacewalk, which previously has been the exclusive domain of professional astronauts.
The spacewalk took place after Isaacman and the crew reached a distance of nearly 870 miles above the Earth, well beyond the International Space Station and surpassing the Earth-lapping record set during NASA’s Project Gemini in 1966.
Only the 24 Apollo mission astronauts who flew to the moon have ventured farther into space.
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Polaris Dawn crew soars over the Kennedy Space Center. MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
While the trip would normally be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it is just the first of three trips Isaacman purchased from Elon Musk in 2022.
Isaacman, who has not publicly stated how much his SpaceX trips cost, was among the first group of tourists who flew to space in 2021.
During that trip, Isaacman set a record by being the first space tourist to circle the Earth without having a professional astronaut aboard.
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