Polaris Dawn, a success story and a dream flight
Let’s talk about the Polaris Down mission, the crew, the experiments and research, the spacewalk, and more.
First, let me tell you how excited I was when the mission Polaris Dawn finally launched on September 10, 2024 after several delays. The launch window opened at 3:38 am. ET; it was too early for a brain already exhausted after many long nights working. I just had to wish them Godspeed before going to bed. But as soon as I woke up, I checked the news. It was delighting to hear that the launch took place and they were in orbit.
Image Credit -PolarisThe Astronauts
One of the fantastic things about this flight is that all crew members, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, Kidd Poteet, and Jared Isaacman, are civilians, and the flight is also funded privately. It was the first human spaceflight for all of them except for Mission Commander Jared Isaacman, who flew previously as commander of Inspiration4.
Two crew members, Sarah and Anna, are also Lead Space Operations Engineers at SpaceX. Sarah is responsible for overseeing the company’s astronaut training program. Anna manages the development of crew operations and serves in mission control as a Mission Director and crew communicator. Kidd is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Jared is the CEO of Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR), a leader in integrated payment processing solutions.
The mission
Although the highlight of the flight was the test of the new Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuits of SpaceX, there were 36 experiments from 31 partner institutions that the crew brought on board, some of which happened before the spacewalk.
Let’s look at the first two days to understand how things went in flight. The first science and research block lasted about 3.5 hours. It included laser-based communications with Starlink using the “Plug and Plaser” inside Dragon’s trunk; they communicated with Starlink satellites throughout the mission. Mid-day, the crew settled in for their first 8 hours of sleep in space, during which Dragon performed its first apogee-raising burn to 1,216 Km. During its second day, the vehicle rose to an elliptical orbit of 190 x 1,400 km, later descending to 700 km in preparation for the spacewalk. Polaris Dawn mission is the highest Dragon mission flown to date and higher than any humans in over 50 years.
The Spacewalk
For this phenomenal but dangerous event, as all spacewalks are, the astronauts started preparing from the start of the mission. They went through a two-day pre-breathe process designed to prevent decompression sickness. This process slowly increases oxygen levels within the spacecraft’s cabin to acclimatize the crew to lower pressures. They also tested their spacesuits inside the spaceship, pressuring them to ensure they could proceed with the spacewalk.
Image Credit -SpaceX/PolarisThe spacewalk was first scheduled to begin at 2:23 am on September 12, 2024. ET. Although it was pretty early, I set my alarm to watch it live. Luckily, it delayed slightly, giving me more time to catch up with my sleep. The first steps began at about 3:12 am. The actual spacewalk started at 4:58 am ET and lasted about 20 minutes. Overall, the operation lasted about two hours.
Only Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis egressed the vehicle. Kidd and Anna, strapped to the most lateral seats, supported the spacewalkers by monitoring vital support systems. Because there is no airlock in the Dragon capsule, opening the hatch released all air into space, so all astronauts wore their EVA suits. The Polaris Dawn crew became the first time four astronauts were simultaneously exposed to the space vacuum.
During the test, Jared and Sarah evaluated the suit’s mobility, thermal systems, and Dragon’s mobility. They used the “Skywalker” to aid with their space walk. The “Skywalker” is a structure covered with a thermal barrier, similar to the one used in the super Draco chamber.
Once completing the EVA, one astronaut at a time, they closed the hatch. Dragon re-pressurized and the crew removed their EVA suits. This officially completed several firsts:
The first time the SpaceX suit was exposed to space.
The first commercial spacewalk.
The first EVA from a Dragon spacecraft.
Other Experiments
The rest of the experiments assessed spaceflight’s health impact [1]. For example, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University wanted to gather data to further NASA studies on Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) risks. Similarly, the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences proposed using automated pupillometers, tools used to measure intracranial pressure in intensive care units, to measure if the headward fluid shifts caused by microgravity lead to SANS. In a related study, the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and URSUS Medical Designs wanted to test a novel 3-D ultrasound device to build 3-D images of the structure of the eye to better understand the many changes eyes undergo in microgravity in preparation for both short- and long-duration space exploration.
In the area of bones, the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hytro, and other collaborators wanted to identify simple techniques to track astronaut bone and muscle health in space; this to individualize countermeasure programs. One of these tests included devices to measure Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) in Space.
A very elementary one involved studying motion sickness in spaceflights. Johns Hopkins University wanted to test the theory that some people have more or larger stones in one ear than another and that the brain has learned to compensate. In space, the learned compensation in the gravity of Earth would not work. This study could give astronauts insight into motion sickness susceptibility and help them prepare accordingly.
KBR & Level Ex: Ultrasound Innovation is looking to test miniaturized, intelligent ultrasound that astronauts can use to scan themselves and collect medical-grade images.
A space to Earth concert
Another highlight of this flight was the first-ever space-to-earth music concert on Friday, September 13, 2024. Performed in space by Sarah Gills using a custom violin, she played the solo violin part of the “Rey’s Theme” from the Star Wars movie “The Force Awakens.” At the same time, videos from orchestras of talented students around the world joined simultaneously. The “Harmony of Resilience” performance was organized by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and El Sistema USA ®.
Image Credit -Polaris/SpaceXOther experiments on Earth
Some partners of the Polaris Dawn mission performed tests post-flight. For example, the Medical University of South Carolina wanted to test a novel, portable MRI (Hyperfine) to image the brains of the Polaris Dawn crew members within hours of returning from space. This might help explain if the brain changes observed in other astronauts are due to re-adaptation to Earth or reflective of their brains in space.
Splashdown
The mission lasted five days, returning to Earth on September 15, 2024, at 3:36 am. ET. The splashdown was in the Gulf of Mexico near Dry Tortugas, Florida, where the recovery vessel MV Shannon picked up the crew and sent them back home.
Other interesting facts
The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission was named “Resilience” by the NASA astronauts onboard its first trip to space in November 2020. This first flight, Crew-1, went to the International Space Station. This Dragon also supported Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit. This will be the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-8 and two Starlink missions.