In many ways, today's spacewalk is a throwback to the earliest days of the space program. Although SpaceX's spacesuits appear modern, they lack self-contained life support systems, with astronauts receiving oxygen through umbilicals, mirroring the Gemini missions from the 1960s. This approach indicates a blend of past and present technologies, reflecting both the evolution of space exploration and the return to foundational methods of spacewalking.
Jared Isaacman paid for the Polaris Dawn mission that aims to send him and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis to conduct a historic spacewalk, something only professional astronauts have done until now. Their brief excursion outside the SpaceX Dragon capsule signifies a significant step towards privatizing space travel and impacting how the general public participates in space exploration in the future.
Spacewalks pose substantial risks as spacesuits serve as individual life-support systems for astronauts. Temperature fluctuations in the vacuum of space can be extreme, and the potential for severe issues during a spacewalk is high. For example, in 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano faced a near-drowning incident in space due to a malfunctioning cooling system. This highlights the importance of safety in the conduct of spacewalks.
The Polaris Dawn mission not only pioneers the efforts of private astronauts in space but also serves as a test for SpaceX's spacesuit technology. The astronauts will remain tethered to the spacecraft via a special rail system known as 'skywalker,' emphasizing safety while allowing them to experience the view of Earth from space. This marks a crucial achievement in both private space travel and engineering.
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