SpaceX's Civilian Astronauts Achieve a Historic Milestone
A significant achievement has been accomplished by a group of four civilian space astronauts aboard the SpaceX Dragon Capsule as part of the Polaris Dawn mission.
The space company, headed by Elon Musk, announced on X early Wednesday morning that "Polaris Dawn and Dragon at 1,400 km above Earth – the farthest humans have traveled since the Apollo program over 50 years ago."
Musk responded to SpaceX's post by encouraging everyone to "Strive to greater heights, For a future brighter than the past, Waking up each morning inspired, To learn new secrets of the Universe!"
Polaris Dawn Mission Update
An update on the mission was provided by Polaris Dawn on X:
The crew of Polaris Dawn successfully completed their first day in orbit, known as Flight Day 1. Following a successful launch by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:23 a.m. ET, the crew began their multi-day mission by removing their spacesuits.
The crew initiated a two-day pre-breathe protocol shortly after liftoff in preparation for their anticipated spacewalk on Thursday, September 12 (Flight Day 3). The Dragon's pressure gradually decreases during this time, while the cabin's oxygen levels increase, helping to purge nitrogen from the crew's bloodstreams to reduce the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) during all spacewalk operations.
About two hours into Flight Day 1, the crew had their first on-orbit meals before beginning the mission's first science and research block and testing Starlink, which lasted about 3.5 hours.
The Dragon made its first pass through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) about two hours into Flight Day 1. The SAA is a region where Earth's magnetic field is weaker, allowing more high-energy particles from space to penetrate closer to Earth. Mission control operators and the crew worked closely to monitor and respond to the vehicle's systems across all high-apogee phases of flight, particularly through the SAA region.
The crew settled in for their first sleep period in space mid-day, during which the Dragon performed its first apogee raising burn. Orbiting Earth higher than any humans in over 50 years, the crew rested for about eight hours in preparation for a busy day on Flight Day 2.
Most notably, during its first orbit, the Dragon reached an apogee of approximately 1,216 kilometers, making Polaris Dawn the highest Dragon mission flown to date. Following a healthy systems checkout, the crew and mission control will monitor the spacecraft ahead of the vehicle raising itself to an elliptical orbit of 190 x 1,400 kilometers at the start of Flight Day 2.
Back on Earth
Meanwhile, back on Earth, the Biden administration has increased their use of federal agencies against Musk's SpaceX.
Musk anticipates that the first uncrewed Starship mega-rocket to Mars will launch in two years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.
Bottom Line
This achievement by SpaceX's civilian astronauts is a significant milestone in human space exploration. It's a testament to the advancements in technology and our persistent curiosity about the universe. What are your thoughts on this historic achievement? Do you think it opens up new possibilities for future space exploration? Share this article with your friends and let's discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is every day at 6pm.
