The first commercial spacewalk will take place this afternoon.

The Polaris Dawn mission will launch a new chapter in private space exploration by launching four private citizens into high-altitude orbit and performing the first civilian spacewalk.

Billionaire Jared Isaacman, CEO of payment processing company Shift4, will lead the Polaris Dawn mission. Photo: USA Today

Led by billionaire Isaacman — CEO of payment processing company Shift4 — and billionaire Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, the crew aims to reach apogee, or the farthest point of orbit, 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) above Earth.

This distance is 28 km further than the 1,372 km mark achieved by NASA astronauts Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon on the Gemini XI mission in 1966, which remains the record for astronauts on a non-lunar spaceflight.

SpaceX announced Sunday that the Falcon 9 rocket that will carry the Polaris Dawn crew capsule into orbit could launch as early as 3:38 a.m. ET Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

An illustration of a Polaris Dawn crew member floating in the forward hatch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during a spacewalk. Photo: CBS News

The Polaris Dawn astronauts will pass through regions of intense radiation and risk being bombarded by small space rocks and man-made debris that could puncture the spacecraft.

During this historic mission, expected to last five days under normal conditions, two of the four crew members will leave the spacecraft on the first commercial spacewalk at an altitude of 700 km above Earth.

This spacewalk will also serve as a key test for SpaceX's new Extravehicular Activity spacesuit, an evolution of the Intravehicular spacesuit.

The new design includes a display, a helmet camera, and improved joint mobility. It also features insulation, sun protection, and the ability to pressurize the suit.

Billionaire Isaacman (left cover) and crew members. Photo: CBS News

For the Polaris Dawn mission, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft — the same type of spacecraft that carries NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) — has undergone significant changes.

These changes include upgrading the life support system to provide more oxygen during spacewalks, improved environmental sensors, and a new nitrogen re-pressurization system was also installed.

The astronauts accompanying billionaire Isaacman include two SpaceX employees: Sarah Grills - who oversees the astronaut training program and Scott Poteet - a former US Air Force pilot with 20 years of experience flying various types of aircraft.

The Polaris Dawn mission will be Isaacman's second trip into space. In 2021, the 1983-born tech billionaire funded his first mission to Earth orbit.

Quang Anh (according to Reuters, NYT, CBS News)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chuyen-di-bo-ngoai-khong-gian-thuong-mai-dau-tien-se-dien-ra-chieu-nay-post309367.html