[NEWAGEBD.NET] SpaceX launched its daring Polaris Dawn mission on Tuesday, a multiday orbital expedition carrying a four-member civilian crew for the first spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.The crew, led by Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Iscaacman, is also aiming to fly deeper into space than any other manned mission in more than half a century, reaching a peak altitude of 870 miles.
’Liftoff of Polaris Dawn!’ SpaceX said on X, alongside a photo of the take-off.
The highlight of the mission will be the first spacewalk composed entirely of non-professionals, who are wearing sleek, newly developed SpaceX extravehicular activity suits outfitted with heads-up displays, helmet cameras and an advanced joint mobility system.
Applause broke out across the mission control centre as the Dragon capsule separated successfully from the main engine and the first glimpses of Earth came into view.
’The Polaris Dawn crew is now in Zero-G!’ SpaceX wrote on X minutes later, as the crew experienced their first taste of zero-gravity.
On the first day of their mission, the craft will travel so high that it will briefly enter the Van Allen radiation belt, a region teeming with high-energy charged particles that can pose health risks to humans over extended periods.