SpaceX Makes History: Pioneering Civilian Spacewalk Marks Giant Leap for Space Exploration
SpaceX Completes First Civilian Spacewalk Mission in History
On September 12, a SpaceX webcast showed astronauts on the “Polaris Dawn” mission completing the first civilian spacewalk mission in history.
NASA pointed out that this move represents a major leap forward for the commercial space industry. The Space Exploration Technology Company (SpaceX) posted a message on social media, “Completed spacewalk!”
Bill Nelson, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), also wrote on social media about the historic achievement.
Four astronauts without professional training aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft launched the first civilian spacewalk mission in history at an altitude of 700 kilometers from the earth, entering space through a tether.
Jared Isaacman, a 41-year-old billionaire entrepreneur, was the first to leave the spacecraft at 6:52 a.m. Eastern time. 30-year-old SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis later also went into space, becoming the first two astronauts to conduct such space travel without official status.
Before starting the spacewalk, the capsule was completely decompressed, and the four astronauts could only rely on SpaceX’s new lightweight spacesuits to supply oxygen. The oxygen came from the oxygen tube connected to the capsule.
Today’s spacewalk lasted 33 minutes and 25 seconds, but it took about two hours in total including preparations and procedures for safely completing the mission. Mission goals also include testing new space suit designs and space capsule operations.
The spacecraft, carrying Isaacman, Gillis, 50-year-old retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott Poteet, and 38-year-old SpaceX engineer Anna Menon, took off from Florida before dawn on the 10th and orbits the Earth in an elliptical orbit.
While Isaacman and Gillis were spacewalking, Menon and Poteet remained in the capsule.
This is the latest and riskiest attempt by American billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX to push the boundaries of commercial space flight. In the past, only government astronauts have completed spacewalks after years of training.
Key Facts:
- First civilian spacewalk mission in history
- Four astronauts without professional training participated
- Spacewalk lasted 33 minutes and 25 seconds
- Mission goals include testing new space suit designs and space capsule operations