On September 12, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn crew achieved a significant milestone when billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis conducted the first-ever all-civilian spacewalk.
This historic event followed the successful launch of the mission on September 10, after multiple delays.
The spacecraft reached a maximum altitude of 870 miles (1,400.7 kilometers), setting a record for crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft.
Isaacman, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon comprised the crew of the Polaris Dawn mission, which lasted five days.
On September 15, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule returned safely to Earth after completing the mission.
The crew opened the hatch of their Dragon spacecraft during the spacewalk, allowing Isaacman and Gillis to exit while tethered to the capsule.
They each spent about 10 minutes in the vacuum of space. Although only Isaacman and Gillis ventured outside, all four crew members wore newly designed spacesuits due to the depressurization of the entire capsule.
