SpaceX has unveiled breathtaking photographs alongside a short video, capturing an orbital sunset from the Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon spacecraft soaring high above our planet. Take a look at the stunning visuals below:
— Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 12, 2024
From its vantage point at over three times the altitude of the International Space Station, the Earth appears rounder and more remote. After their launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Crew Dragon and its four crew members achieved an impressive apogee of more than 870 miles (1,400 kilometers), marking the farthest any humans have ventured into space since the Apollo missions over fifty years ago.
On Thursday, September 13, at early morning ET, crew members Jared Isaacson and Sarah Gillis are set to perform a historic spacewalk from the Crew Dragon, approximately 435 miles (700 kilometers) above the Earth. This mission will be the first commercial spacewalk, featuring a newly developed spacesuit designed to enhance mobility and comfort compared to existing models. This upgraded suit is expected to be integral for future crewed expeditions to the Moon and possibly Mars.
An update posted on Polaris Dawn’s X account on Wednesday mentioned that the crew, including Scott Poteet and Anna Menon, has been diligently preparing for the upcoming spacewalk while engaging in various scientific and research activities. They have also participated in several video calls back to Earth, connecting with family through SpaceX’s Starlink.
Funded by billionaire businessman Jared Isaacson, who launched Shift4 Payments when he was just sixteen, the Polaris Dawn mission marks his second space journey, following the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, which included a crew of non-professional astronauts.
The Polaris Dawn team is expected to return to Earth this weekend after spending approximately five days in orbit.