Polaris Dawn crew gears up for the first-ever spacewalk from Dragon today.
If anything affects the schedule, a backup time is set for tomorrow, September 13.
You can catch all the action live starting an hour before the spacewalk begins.
Today marks a historic moment for space exploration as the Polaris Dawn crew gears up for the first-ever spacewalk from SpaceX Dragon. This is targeted to start at 5:58 a.m. ET (3:28 p.m. IST). If anything affects the schedule, a backup time is set for tomorrow, September 13.
You can catch all the action live starting an hour before the spacewalk begins. Tune in to the webcast on SpaceX’s official website or on X (@SpaceX).
The spacewalk will occur while the Polaris Dawn crew orbits Earth in an elliptical path, ranging from about 190 km to 700 km above the planet. Before stepping outside, the crew will go through a series of preparations, including breathing exercises, suit checks, and pressurisation tests.
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Dragon’s cabin pressure will slowly lower to vacuum prior to hatch opening. Once the hatch is open, all four crew members will be exposed to the space environment. Mission Commander Jared Isaacman will be the first to exit Dragon, performing mobility tests in the new SpaceX EVA suit before re-entering the spacecraft. Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis will follow with similar tasks, and once she’s back inside, the hatch will be closed. Mission Pilot Kidd Poteet and Medical Officer Anna Menon will monitor the operation and support the crew throughout.
The entire spacewalk is expected to last around two hours. After the hatch is closed, Dragon will slowly return to normal pressure, adjusting oxygen and nitrogen levels.
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Meet the crew
The Polaris Dawn mission brings together a diverse team of space enthusiasts. This flight marks the first human spaceflight for Mission Pilot Kidd Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Medical Officer Anna Menon. Mission Commander Jared Isaacman, who previously led the Inspiration4 mission, will be leading this spacewalk. Notably, this mission will also include two SpaceX employees, offering valuable insights for future space endeavours.
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Ayushi Jain
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