SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Astronaut Mission Delayed to Mid-August
The highly anticipated first-ever private spacewalk on the Polaris Dawn mission by SpaceX has been delayed to mid-August. Originally scheduled for a launch no earlier than July 31, the mission is now targeted for mid- to late August. This delay was announced during a press conference focusing on SpaceX’s upcoming Crew-9 astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, scheduled to launch no earlier than August 18.
Sarah Walker, SpaceX’s director of Dragon mission management, explained that the delay was due to ongoing activities on the ISS. The company decided to prioritize the Crew-9 mission before launching Polaris Dawn later in the summer. The Polaris Dawn mission is part of the Polaris Program, funded and commanded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who previously led the Inspiration4 mission in September 2021.
The Polaris Dawn crew includes Isaacman, pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, all from SpaceX. Similar to the Inspiration4 mission, Polaris Dawn will be a free flyer orbiting Earth independently without docking with the ISS. However, it will reach higher altitudes and feature the first-ever private extravehicular activity, or spacewalk.
Originally planned for late 2022, the Polaris Dawn mission has faced several delays due to its complexity and ambitious nature. Despite setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to launching the mission in August. The recent delay announcement came shortly after a Falcon 9 mishap on July 11, where the rocket’s upper stage failed to complete its orbit-raising burn, resulting in the loss of 20 Starlink internet satellites.
SpaceX identified a leak of liquid oxygen as the cause of the mishap and has implemented corrective measures to prevent future issues. The Falcon 9 is scheduled for another Starlink launch to rebound from the incident. Stay updated on the latest space news, rocket launches, and more by joining our Space Forums. If you have any news tips or comments, feel free to reach out to us at community@space.com.
Michael Wall, Senior Space Writer at Space.com, covers exoplanets, spaceflight, and military space. His book “Out There” explores the search for alien life. With a background in evolutionary biology and wildlife biology, Michael brings a unique perspective to his science writing. Follow him on Twitter for updates on his latest projects and space-related insights.
