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SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission sets stage for first commercial spacewalk
When SpaceX launches the Polaris Dawn mission this month, it will go higher than any crewed mission since Apollo – but there’s more to the story.
By plane, train, or car, space fans are coming to Brevard to witness history on Tuesday morning. Even though they may not know the Polaris Dawn crew on a personal level, many space enthusiasts believe this launch is something important to be present for − a moment in space history.
In the early hours of Tuesday, billionaire Jared Isaacman, pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, launch on their daring journey to fly higher than American astronauts have since the end of the Apollo program and conduct the first ever civilian spacewalk. They will be taking a SpaceX Dragon up to orbit, launching atop a Falcon 9, and while in space, they have a list of approximately 40 health research and mission objectives to carry out over the six-day mission.
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FLORIDA TODAY connected with individuals who are traveling to Brevard to watch the launch — each of whom said the Inspiration4 mission, which was also commanded by Isaacman in 2021, left them excited for the future of the private space industry.
Coming in for Polaris Dawn Launch Day
Keith Yohn will be traveling from Arkansas with his wife and three daughters.
“The Inspiration4 launch left a lasting impression on me, and I hope my family finds the Polaris Dawn launch just as awe-inspiring,” Yohn told FLORIDA TODAY via X (formerly Twitter). “For us, this is more than just a trip; it’s a chance to experience the thrill of space exploration as a family and to be part of something much bigger than ourselves.”
The Inspiration4 mission raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and this mission will do the same.
During a previous St. Jude benefit, Yohn won a fighter jet flight with the Polaris Program team. In the days leading up to Tuesday’s launch, he will be flying in a L-39 Albatross jet with John “Slick” Baum, the Polaris philanthropy director. Yohn may even get the chance to fly by the Falcon 9 rocket on the launch pad.
“This entire experience is a dream come true and a testament to how the boundaries of space exploration are expanding for all of us,” Yohn said.
Tim Griepentrog is flying in from Wausau, Wisconsin, to watch Polaris Dawn lift off.
“When most civilians are going to space to see the sights, have an adventure, or perform a focused experiment, Jared and SpaceX have come together to accelerate the tech development to commercialize space for the masses and bring Mars closer than ever,” Griepentrog told FLORIDA TODAY on X. “The progress made over the Polaris missions will bring many of our dreams of living and working in space much closer to reality.”
Susie Bennett from Sarasota told FLORIDA TODAY she will be making the drive with her family to watch Polaris Dawn launch.
“There are so many launches now that it’s hard to remember we’re still seeing so many ‘firsts’. I remember when the shuttle program ended when I was a kid; to see where we are today is mind blowing,” Bennett said on X.
“SpaceX has made such amazing strides at such a rapid pace and the Polaris Dawn mission will provide valuable data that will challenge what we thought possible for the space exploration,” wrote Bennett.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
