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Launch date of SpaceX’s commercial astronaut mission Polaris Dawn postponed again – SatNews

The risks are serious, as the crew will attempt to reach the highest orbit of Earth ever recorded since the Apollo program, passing through intense radioactivity and risking potentially significant damage from small rocks and space debris.

During their multi-day mission to orbit, Dragon and its crew will participate in the first extravehicular activity (EVA) by commercial astronauts. EVA suits developed by SpaceX. In addition, they carry out 36 research studies and experiments of 31 partner institutions to improve human health on Earth as well as during long-duration space flights and to test laser-based Starlink communications in space.

Despite numerous delays, Jared Isaacman stressed that safety comes first.

Jared Isaacman

  • Birthday: 02.11.1983
  • Role: commander
  • Nationality: American
  • First flight: 16.09.2021
  • Last flight: 16.09.2021

Jared Isaacman is an American businessman and pilot. He is the co-founder and CEO of Harbortouch, a payment processor and payment processing hardware manufacturer.

Scott Poteet

  • Birthday: 01.01.1970
  • Role: pilot
  • Nationality: American

Scott “Kidd” Poteet is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who served for 20 years in a variety of capacities, including commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird #4 demonstration pilot, USAF Weapons School graduate, operational test and evaluation pilot, and flight examiner. Kidd is a command pilot with over 3,200 flight hours in the F-16, A-4, T-38, T-37, T-3, and Alpha Jet. Kidd has over 400 combat hours in Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Joint Guardian, Freedom's Sentinel, and Resolute Support.

Following his Air Force career, Kidd held a variety of roles, including Director of Business Development at Draken International and VP of Strategy at Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR). Most recently, he served as Mission Director of Inspiration4. Kidd is also an accomplished collegiate runner and triathlete, having competed in 15 Ironman triathlons since 2000, including four Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Anna Menon

  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: American

Anna Menon is a senior aerospace engineer at SpaceX, where she leads the development of crew operations and serves in mission control as both mission controller and crew communicator. During her tenure at SpaceX, she led the implementation of Dragon's crew capabilities, helped create the role of crew communicator operator, and developed critical operational responses to vehicle emergencies such as fire or cabin depressurization. Anna served in mission control during several Dragon missions, such as Demo-2, Crew-1, CRS-22, and CRS-23.

Sarah Gillis

  • Birthday: 01.01.1990
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: American

Sarah Gillis is a senior aerospace engineer at SpaceX and is responsible for overseeing the company's astronaut training program, which includes developing mission-specific curriculum and conducting training for NASA and commercial astronauts flying aboard the Dragon spacecraft. She prepared NASA astronauts for the Demo-2 and Crew-1 missions and directly trained the Inspiration4 astronauts. She is an experienced mission control operator who has served as a navigation officer supporting real-time operations for Dragon's cargo resupply missions to and from the International Space Station and as a crew communicator for Dragon's human spaceflight missions.

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While the Polaris Dawn crew will undertake the first spacewalk by private astronauts, using spacesuit technology developed by SpaceX, they will also test laser-based communications with satellite broadband provider Starlink, a move CEO Elon Musk plans as part of his efforts to pave the way for travel to places like Mars.

The risks are very real, as the crew will attempt to reach Earth's highest orbit ever recorded, passing through intense radiation and running the risk of potentially significant damage from small rocks and debris from space.

During their multi-day mission to Earth orbit, Dragon and its crew will attempt to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown since the Apollo program and participate in the first commercial astronaut extravehicular activity (EVA) to EVA suits developed by SpaceXYou will also 36 research studies and experiments of 31 partner institutions to improve human health on Earth as well as during long-duration space flights and to test laser-based Starlink communications in space.

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It is a project that has suffered numerous delays over the years, namely November and December 2022, March 2023, April 2024, early summer 2024, August 26 and 27.

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Then the recent delay on August 28 due to poor recovery weather at the end of the planned mission schedule.

Scott Poteet of Durham, New Hampshire, is the mission pilot. In a post on X, Poteet said he hopes for a clear launch day.

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SpaceX has finally set a new date for Polaris Dawn to reach the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo mission.

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Clear weather conditions are expected for the scheduled launch date of Polaris Dawn, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket that will launch the Crew Dragon spacecraft at 3:38 a.m. EDT (07:38 UTC) on September 1 from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This project has seen numerous delays over the years, from November and December 2022, to March 2023, April 2024, early summer 2024, and finally August 26 and 27.

Then, on August 28, the most recent delay due to bad weather in the recovery occurred at the end of the planned mission schedule.

During their multi-day mission to Earth orbit, Dragon and its crew will attempt to reach the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo program and participate in the first extravehicular activity (EVA) by commercial astronauts. EVA suits developed by SpaceXYou will also 36 research studies and experiments of 31 partner institutions to improve human health on Earth as well as during long-duration space flights and to test laser-based Starlink communications in space.

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The Polaris Dawn The crew will combine their expertise, knowledge and passion for spaceflight to advance human space exploration. This will be the first manned spaceflight for Mission pilot Kidd Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah GillisAnd Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon. The Polaris Dawn mission is commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who will be traveling into space for the second time. He will be accompanied on this purely private mission by pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. The first booster, B1083, will complete its fourth flight and will land on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” approximately nine and a half minutes after launch. The Crew Dragon will return for a splashdown at sea. Billionaire, mission commander Jared Isaacman previously flew into space as commander of Inspiration4. This is also the first time that two SpaceX employees will be part of a manned spaceflight crew, providing valuable insights for future missions on the path to creating multiplanetary life.

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The first stage, B1083, will complete its fourth flight and land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas approximately nine and a half minutes after launch. The Crew Dragon will return for a splashdown at sea.