When the mission commences with the launch of a SpaceX Dragon capsule , four private astronauts will rocket into the upper reaches of Earth's orbit, where they will conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk, among other things.
The mission has the potential to be a historic one – and not just because of the many firsts that billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman's crew hopes to accomplish. A successful mission would also be a crucial step in laying the groundwork for future deep space exploration as NASA and other space agencies set their sights on destinations like Mars .
Isaacman, the man behind 2021's Inspiration4 , the mission that became the first-ever private orbital spaceflight, helped bankroll Polaris Dawn along with Elon Musk's SpaceX.
The mission, which was initially scheduled to launch early Monday before a 24-hour delay , still has the potential to be scrubbed due to factors such as poor weather conditions or unexpected issues with the spacecraft. If everything goes to plan, here's how to watch it.
After arriving last week at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the four-member crew of Polaris Dawn are scheduled to embark on their Earth orbit mission as early as Tuesday.
The four members of the Polaris Dawn crew marvel at the Falcon 9 rocket that will take them into orbit potentially Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Dragon. Polaris Program/John Kraus
FLORIDA TODAY, part of the USA TODAY Network, will also provide live coverage starting about two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space .
The Polaris Dawn planned orbit schedule
The Falcon 9 rocket with the SpaceX Dragon capsule perched atop it are photographed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as launch preparations for Tuesday were underway. Polaris Program/John Kraus
Day 1: Launch, then pass through the inner regions of Earth's Van Allen radiation belt to 870 miles above the surface, according to FLORIDA TODAY . The capsule will then descend to a new cruising orbit about 435 miles above Earth.
Day 3: Conduct a spacewalk , which will be livestreamed. Two crewmembers will exit the spacecraft, but because the Dragon does not have an airlock, its entire interior will be exposed to the vacuum of space, meaning all four astronauts will wear the suits to receive oxygen through tethers.
Day 4: Test a new laser-based satellite communication system using Starlink.
Day 5: Complete some 40 scientific experiments – many of which are to understand the human body's reaction to long spaceflights – and prepare for reentry.
Day 6: Reenter Earth's atmosphere and splash down at one of seven sites off the Florida coast.
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