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<p>The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which made history when its crew conducted the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts, splashed down off the coast of Florida early&nbsp;Sunday (Sep 15).</p>

<p>The Dragon spacecraft landed in the ocean at 3:37 am (0737 GMT), a webcast of the splashdown showed, with a recovery team deploying in the pre-dawn darkness to retrieve the capsule and crew.</p>

<p>The four-member team led by fintech billionaire Jared Isaacman launched Tuesday from the Kennedy Space Center, quickly journeying deeper into the cosmos than any humans in the past half century as they ventured into the dangerous Van Allen radiation belt.</p>

<p>They hit a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometres) -- more than three times higher than the International Space Station and the furthest humans had ever travelled from Earth since the Apollo missions to the Moon.</p>

<p>Then on Thursday (Sep 12), with their Dragon spacecraft's orbit brought down to 434 miles, Isaacman swung open the hatch and climbed out into the void, gripping a structure called "Skywalker" as a breathtaking view of Earth unfolded before him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"SpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world," he told mission control in Hawthorne, California, where teams erupted in applause.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth, <a href="https://twitter.com/rookisaacman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rookisaacman</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KiddPoteet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kiddpoteet</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Gillis_SarahE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gillis_SarahE</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/annawmenon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annawmenon</a> <a href="https://t.co/nILpMQh2sR">pic.twitter.com/nILpMQh2sR</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1835221615392834024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>He went back inside after a few minutes and was replaced by a second astronaut, SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, who, like Isaacman, performed a series of mobility tests on SpaceX's sleek, next-generation suits.</p>

<p>Since Dragon doesn't have an airlock, the entire crew were exposed to the vacuum of space. Mission pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineer Anna Menon remained strapped in throughout as they monitored vital support systems.</p>

<p>It marked a "giant leap forward" for the commercial space industry, said NASA chief Bill Nelson, as well as another triumphant achievement for SpaceX.</p>

<p>Though the company was only founded in 2002, it has outpaced its legacy competitors thanks in large part to founder Elon Musk's vast fortune and zeal to begin the colonization of Mars.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spacex-launches-all-civilian-polaris-mission-a-new-frontier-in-private-space-exploration-757593"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;SpaceX launches 'all civilian' Polaris mission: A new frontier in private space exploration</strong></a></p>

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<h2>Rousing violin solo</h2>

<p>Since completing their extravehicular activity, the crew have continued to carry out roughly 40 science experiments -- for example inserting endoscopic cameras through their noses and into their throats to image their airways and better understand the impact of long-duration space missions on human health.</p>

<p>They also demonstrated connectivity with SpaceX's Starlink internet satellite constellation by sending back to ground control a high-resolution video of Gillis playing "Rey's Theme" by "Star Wars" composer John Williams, on the violin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions under the Polaris program, a collaboration between Isaacman and SpaceX.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explainer-why-polaris-dawn-is-a-daring-multiple-record-breaking-spaceflight-758235"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Explainer: Why Polaris Dawn is a daring, multiple record-breaking spaceflight</strong></a></p>

<p>Financial terms of the partnership remain under wraps but Isaacman, the 41-year-old founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, reportedly poured $200 million of his own money into leading the 2021 all-civilian SpaceX Inspiration4 orbital mission.</p>

<p>The final Polaris mission aims to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship, a prototype next-generation rocket that is key to Musk's interplanetary ambitions.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>


The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which made history when its crew conducted the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts, splashed down off the coast of Florida early Sunday (Sep 15).

The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which made history when its crew conducted the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts, splashed down off the coast of Florida early Sunday (Sep 15). The Dragon spacecraft landed in the ocean at 3:37 am (0737 GMT), a webcast of the splashdown showed, with a recovery team deploying in the pre-dawn darkness to retrieve the capsule and crew. The four-member team led by fintech billionaire Jared Isaacman launched Tuesday from the Kennedy Space Center, quickly journeying deeper into the cosmos than any humans in the past half century as they ventured into the dangerous Van Allen radiation belt. They hit a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometres) -- more than three times higher than the International Space Station and the furthest humans had ever travelled from Earth since the Apollo missions to the Moon. Then on Thursday (Sep 12), with their Dragon spacecraft's orbit brought down to 434 miles, Isaacman swung open the hatch and climbed out into the void, gripping a structure called "Skywalker" as a breathtaking view of Earth unfolded before him. "SpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world," he told mission control in Hawthorne, California, where teams erupted in applause. Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth, @rookisaacman, @kiddpoteet, @Gillis_SarahE, @annawmenon pic.twitter.com/nILpMQh2sR — SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 15, 2024 × He went back inside after a few minutes and was replaced by a second astronaut, SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, who, like Isaacman, performed a series of mobility tests on SpaceX's sleek, next-generation suits. Since Dragon doesn't have an airlock, the entire crew were exposed to the vacuum of space. Mission pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineer Anna Menon remained strapped in throughout as they monitored vital support systems. It marked a "giant leap forward" for the commercial space industry, said NASA chief Bill Nelson, as well as another triumphant achievement for SpaceX. Though the company was only founded in 2002, it has outpaced its legacy competitors thanks in large part to founder Elon Musk's vast fortune and zeal to begin the colonization of Mars. Watch | SpaceX launches 'all civilian' Polaris mission: A new frontier in private space exploration × Rousing violin solo Since completing their extravehicular activity, the crew have continued to carry out roughly 40 science experiments -- for example inserting endoscopic cameras through their noses and into their throats to image their airways and better understand the impact of long-duration space missions on human health. They also demonstrated connectivity with SpaceX's Starlink internet satellite constellation by sending back to ground control a high-resolution video of Gillis playing "Rey's Theme" by "Star Wars" composer John Williams, on the violin. Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions under the Polaris program, a collaboration between Isaacman and SpaceX. Also read | Explainer: Why Polaris Dawn is a daring, multiple record-breaking spaceflight Financial terms of the partnership remain under wraps but Isaacman, the 41-year-old founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, reportedly poured $200 million of his own money into leading the 2021 all-civilian SpaceX Inspiration4 orbital mission. The final Polaris mission aims to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship, a prototype next-generation rocket that is key to Musk's interplanetary ambitions. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn crew returns to Earth safely after historic spacewalk - WATCH

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<p>Today, 12th September, 2024, two American astronauts have done the unthinkable - flushed out all cabin air from the spacecraft that they call home, donned extravehicular activity suits (temperature, pressure controlled space suits that provide oxygen, communications, data monitoring), opened the protective hatch of their spacecraft, and temporarily exited into the vast nothingness of space. While two astronauts took turns and performed a spacewalk, two others sat inside the capsule, wearing the same suits that their spacewalking counterparts wore, monitoring all the activities that were unfolding.</p>

<p>All this action unfolded 700 km&nbsp;above the earth's surface. For those who aren't familiar with the domain of human spaceflight, this feat might sound routine. However, this five-day Polaris Dawn mission is among the gutsiest space ventures thus far of the 21st century. Here's why:</p>

<h2><strong>First private spacewalk</strong></h2>

<p>Over the last three decades alone, astronauts have performed nearly 470 spacewalks. In fact, the first spacewalk (floating in space, outside the protective confines of the spacecraft) was performed by Soviet Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, back in March 1965. However, all these efforts have been undertaken by government-trained astronauts. In the Polaris Dawn mission, all four crew members are private citizens and are undertaking this mission in partnership with the private firm SpaceX. The rocket that flew them to space, the spacecraft that houses them, the spacesuits being used, all of them are privately designed and developed by SpaceX. The crew members are: Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who funded this mission, Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force aviator, SpaceX staffers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, both of whom are with ground teams that work with astronauts. Other than Isaacman, all are undertaking their maiden spaceflight.</p>

<h2><strong>The furthest human spaceflight in 52 years</strong></h2>

<p>Between 1969-72, the American Apollo series of missions attempted multiple crewed Lunar missions, which also included the iconic Apollo-11 moon landing. The moon is four lakh kilometres away from the earth and this is the furthest that humans have gone from the home planet. After the Apollo missions, human spaceflight has been restricted to the International Space Station and its precursors, all of which are positioned 400 km above the earth. Polaris Dawn flew to a maximum altitude of 1400 km, which is the highest that humans have ventured, since the Apollo-era. This is also the furthest that a non-Lunar mission has ever flown and the furthest that women have flown.</p>

<h2><strong>A risky flight through earth's radiation belts</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;Van Allen radiation belts are zones of energetic charged particles, primarily originating from the solar wind, that are captured and held around Earth by its magnetic field. These belts extend from 640 km to 58,000 km above the earth. The spacecraft carrying the Polaris Dawn crew, flew into this region. For accomplishing this feat, their craft and on-board systems would be shielded adequately to protect from the risks posed by radiation. It is also crucial that the craft protect its occupants from higher-than-usual doses of radiation. As humans prepare to perform missions to Moon and Mars, plan for long-term bases on other celestial bodies, understanding radiation is crucial.</p>

<h2><strong>19 people in space, circling the earth&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Right now, there are 19 people who are in space, circling the earth. This is the highest number of people at a time who are in space. This showcases how far humanity has come in its ongoing and never-ending journey to explore the unknown. Usually, there are about 12 people or so in space, on a constant basis, considering that there are two orbiting labs - International Space Station and Chinese Tiangong space station.</p>

<p>At present, there are nine crew members aboard the International Space Station, three aboard the Chinese Space Station, three crew on the Soyuz MS-26 capsule that is flying to the space station, and four members aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon that is performing the private mission Polaris Dawn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, unlike the other well-trained, government-representing astronauts, the 'Polaris Dawn' crew undertook their space voyage as a personal risk, with a common determination to push humanity further in an endless journey of space exploration. The EVA suits they've been testing are the first version of what SpaceX intends to use in the long-run for their missions that take humans further into space, to other planets. The Polaris Dawn crew are also performing close to 40 experiments and testing out new technologies that can push the limits of human-led space exploration.</p>


Today, 12th September, 2024, two American astronauts have done the unthinkable - flushed out all cabin air from the spacecraft that they call home, donned extravehicular activity suits (temperature, pressure controlled space suits that provide oxygen, communications, data monitoring), opened the protective hatch of their spacecraft, and temporarily exited into the vast nothingness of space.

Today, 12th September, 2024, two American astronauts have done the unthinkable - flushed out all cabin air from the spacecraft that they call home, donned extravehicular activity suits (temperature, pressure controlled space suits that provide oxygen, communications, data monitoring), opened the protective hatch of their spacecraft, and temporarily exited into the vast nothingness of space. While two astronauts took turns and performed a spacewalk, two others sat inside the capsule, wearing the same suits that their spacewalking counterparts wore, monitoring all the activities that were unfolding. All this action unfolded 700 km above the earth's surface. For those who aren't familiar with the domain of human spaceflight, this feat might sound routine. However, this five-day Polaris Dawn mission is among the gutsiest space ventures thus far of the 21st century. Here's why: First private spacewalk Over the last three decades alone, astronauts have performed nearly 470 spacewalks. In fact, the first spacewalk (floating in space, outside the protective confines of the spacecraft) was performed by Soviet Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, back in March 1965. However, all these efforts have been undertaken by government-trained astronauts. In the Polaris Dawn mission, all four crew members are private citizens and are undertaking this mission in partnership with the private firm SpaceX. The rocket that flew them to space, the spacecraft that houses them, the spacesuits being used, all of them are privately designed and developed by SpaceX. The crew members are: Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who funded this mission, Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force aviator, SpaceX staffers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, both of whom are with ground teams that work with astronauts. Other than Isaacman, all are undertaking their maiden spaceflight. The furthest human spaceflight in 52 years Between 1969-72, the American Apollo series of missions attempted multiple crewed Lunar missions, which also included the iconic Apollo-11 moon landing. The moon is four lakh kilometres away from the earth and this is the furthest that humans have gone from the home planet. After the Apollo missions, human spaceflight has been restricted to the International Space Station and its precursors, all of which are positioned 400 km above the earth. Polaris Dawn flew to a maximum altitude of 1400 km, which is the highest that humans have ventured, since the Apollo-era. This is also the furthest that a non-Lunar mission has ever flown and the furthest that women have flown. A risky flight through earth's radiation belts The Van Allen radiation belts are zones of energetic charged particles, primarily originating from the solar wind, that are captured and held around Earth by its magnetic field. These belts extend from 640 km to 58,000 km above the earth. The spacecraft carrying the Polaris Dawn crew, flew into this region. For accomplishing this feat, their craft and on-board systems would be shielded adequately to protect from the risks posed by radiation. It is also crucial that the craft protect its occupants from higher-than-usual doses of radiation. As humans prepare to perform missions to Moon and Mars, plan for long-term bases on other celestial bodies, understanding radiation is crucial. 19 people in space, circling the earth Right now, there are 19 people who are in space, circling the earth. This is the highest number of people at a time who are in space. This showcases how far humanity has come in its ongoing and never-ending journey to explore the unknown. Usually, there are about 12 people or so in space, on a constant basis, considering that there are two orbiting labs - International Space Station and Chinese Tiangong space station. At present, there are nine crew members aboard the International Space Station, three aboard the Chinese Space Station, three crew on the Soyuz MS-26 capsule that is flying to the space station, and four members aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon that is performing the private mission Polaris Dawn. Notably, unlike the other well-trained, government-representing astronauts, the 'Polaris Dawn' crew undertook their space voyage as a personal risk, with a common determination to push humanity further in an endless journey of space exploration. The EVA suits they've been testing are the first version of what SpaceX intends to use in the long-run for their missions that take humans further into space, to other planets. The Polaris Dawn crew are also performing close to 40 experiments and testing out new technologies that can push the limits of human-led space exploration.

Explainer: Why Polaris Dawn is a daring, multiple record-breaking spaceflight

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:69,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1700}">Space has long been a place of wonder, but it's also an environment inherently dangerous to humans. To date, only about 700 humans have made the journey to space successfully. However, according to Chris Impey, a University of Arizona professor and space exploration expert, with the commercialisation of space by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the number of success stories and the risks are set to heighten.</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:102,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1788}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:102,&quot;w&quot;:98,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1788}">The risks</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:147,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1833}">Impey, an astronomer, writing for The Conversation, says "I think a lot about the risks and rewards of exploring space."</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:197,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1883}">He says that the overall fatality rate for space travellers is around 3 per cent, a figure "higher than extreme sports such as BASE jumping or jumping off a cliff wearing a wingsuit".</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:247,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1933}"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/26000-year-old-human-animal-footprints-unearthed-in-spain-it-once-was-a-settlement-of-757071">26,000-year-old human, animal footprints unearthed in Spain. It once was a settlement of...</a></strong></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:279,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1965}">"In total, 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or during space missions," and there have been "dozens of close calls".</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:332,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2018}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:332,&quot;w&quot;:578,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2018}">What are the risks of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission?</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:377,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:52,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2063}">SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission, originally scheduled to launch on Aug 27 2024 but delayed due to a helium leak and bad weather will take its four-person crew including civilians to an altitude of 435 miles (a little over&nbsp;700 kilometres)—higher than any astronauts since Apollo.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:444,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2130}">The crew will be exposed to high levels of radiation, "getting as much in a few hours as they would in 20 years on the Earth".&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:494,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2180}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:494,&quot;w&quot;:664,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2180}">Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:494,&quot;w&quot;:583,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2180}" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eerie-mysterious-hole-gets-spotted-on-earth-through-google-maps-its-secret-is-757038">Eerie 'mysterious hole' gets spotted on Earth through Google Maps, its secret is...</a></strong></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:526,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:52,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2212}">The mission also plans a spacewalk, the "first for nongovernment astronauts"—potentially the most dangerous part—using spacesuits not tested in space, in a capsule without an airlock. The risks are significant: a small tear or puncture in the spacesuit could be fatal.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:593,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2279}">Despite the challenges, the mission also offers the opportunity to gather valuable data on the effects of space travel and radiation exposure, as it will travel higher than any other previous mission.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:643,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2329}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:643,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2329}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Space has long been a place of wonder, but it's also an environment inherently dangerous to humans. To date, only about 700 humans have made the journey to space successfully.

Space has long been a place of wonder, but it's also an environment inherently dangerous to humans. To date, only about 700 humans have made the journey to space successfully. However, according to Chris Impey, a University of Arizona professor and space exploration expert, with the commercialisation of space by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the number of success stories and the risks are set to heighten. The risks Impey, an astronomer, writing for The Conversation, says "I think a lot about the risks and rewards of exploring space." He says that the overall fatality rate for space travellers is around 3 per cent, a figure "higher than extreme sports such as BASE jumping or jumping off a cliff wearing a wingsuit". Also read | 26,000-year-old human, animal footprints unearthed in Spain. It once was a settlement of... "In total, 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or during space missions," and there have been "dozens of close calls". What are the risks of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission? SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission, originally scheduled to launch on Aug 27 2024 but delayed due to a helium leak and bad weather will take its four-person crew including civilians to an altitude of 435 miles (a little over 700 kilometres)—higher than any astronauts since Apollo. The crew will be exposed to high levels of radiation, "getting as much in a few hours as they would in 20 years on the Earth". Also read | Eerie 'mysterious hole' gets spotted on Earth through Google Maps, its secret is... The mission also plans a spacewalk, the "first for nongovernment astronauts"—potentially the most dangerous part—using spacesuits not tested in space, in a capsule without an airlock. The risks are significant: a small tear or puncture in the spacesuit could be fatal. Despite the challenges, the mission also offers the opportunity to gather valuable data on the effects of space travel and radiation exposure, as it will travel higher than any other previous mission. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission involves 'unprecedented' dangers, expert warns