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On September 12 at 11:58 UTC, SpaceX\u2019s Polaris Dawn crew accomplished a historic feat by conducting the first commercial spacewalk from a spaceship. This extravehicular activity (EVA) used SpaceX\u2019s newly built EVA suits.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mission commander, Jared Isaacman, remarked on X during Dragon egress and seeing Earth from 738 km (459 miles) away, \u201cSpaceX, back at home, we sure have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The EVA was conducted at approximately 738 km (459 miles). The Dragon spacecraft\u2019s elliptical orbit also achieved a maximum altitude of 1 408 km (875 miles), breaking the previous Earth-orbit altitude record held by Gemini 11, which is 1 373 km (853 miles).<\/p>\n
The mission preparation included a pre-breathe phase to accustom the crew to the low-pressure space environment. This procedure was designed to prevent decompression sickness, or \u201cthe bends,\u201d by gradually acclimating the astronauts to the lower space pressures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nSpaceX and the Polaris Dawn crew have completed the first commercial spacewalk!<\/p>\n
\u201cSpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.\u201d \u2014 Mission Commander @rookisaacman<\/a> during Dragon egress and seeing our planet from ~738 km pic.twitter.com\/lRczSv5i4k<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Inside the spacecraft, cabin pressure was gradually lowered while oxygen levels were increased. This process allowed the crew\u2019s bodies to adjust to the vacuum conditions they would encounter during the spacewalk. Each astronaut spent around 12 minutes on the spacewalk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the spacewalk, the crew donned their newly designed SpaceX EVA suits. After the suits were prepared, the Dragon spacecraft was vented to near-vacuum conditions. The cabin pressure was dropped around four psi, and more venting brought it closer to the vacuum of space. After achieving the desired pressure, the hatch was opened. This marked the first time four astronauts were simultaneously exposed to the vacuum of space.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nDragon is at 4 psi, halfway to reaching vacuum pic.twitter.com\/LuDgEc6dAD<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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With the hatch open, commander Jared Isaacman and Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis individually evacuated the spacecraft to conduct a series of tests to assess the performance of their new EVA suits and the Dragon mobility aid \u201cSkywalker.\u201d Meanwhile, Mission Pilot Poteet and Mission Specialist Menon kept an eye on the operation inside Dragon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \nCommander @rookisaacman<\/a> has egressed Dragon and is going through the first of three suit mobility tests that will test overall hand body control, vertical movement with Skywalker, and foot restraint pic.twitter.com\/XATJQhLuIZ<\/a><\/p>\n