SpaceX is getting ready to set out on its historic Polaris Dawn mission, which will send four astronauts into orbit aboard its Crew Dragon capsule. The five-day journey through the Van Allen radiation belts will include the first spacewalk done by private astronauts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
If you\u2019re curious about the mission, here\u2019s what you should know and how to watch it live.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What is the Polaris Dawn mission?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nFirst announced in 2022<\/a>, Polaris Dawn is a mission funded by billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman. In addition to Isaacman, three other privately-trained astronauts will embark on the mission, including retired US Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, as well as SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Only Isaacman and Gillis will perform the spacewalk, which will take place around 430 miles above Earth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Polaris Dawn crew.<\/em><\/figcaption>Image: SpaceX<\/a><\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nOnce launched into orbit, the four crew members will eventually reach a maximum altitude of around 870 miles, making it the furthest astronauts have traveled since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. They\u2019ll also fly through the Van Allen belts, two bands of radiation NASA says consist<\/a> of high-energy particles that come from the Sun and the atmosphere\u2019s interaction with cosmic rays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhy is Polaris Dawn so important?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nThe spacewalk isn\u2019t the only objective of the Polaris Dawn mission. The astronauts will also test SpaceX\u2019s extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, which are made with new materials for improved mobility. These suits are paired with a 3D-printed helmet with a heads-up display and a visor designed to mitigate glare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nAll four astronauts will wear the upgraded suits when the spacewalk takes place, as the Crew Dragon doesn\u2019t have an airlock, leaving the crew members inside the capsule \u201cexposed to the vacuum of space,\u201d according to SpaceX<\/a>. During the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will perform tests with the new spacesuits. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nSince the capsule will pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, the mission will also contribute to research about the effects of space radiation on the human body. Additionally, the Polaris Dawn crew will test Starlink\u2019s satellite internet technology to communicate with Earth, as well as conduct research on decompression sickness<\/a> and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhen is Polaris Dawn?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nPolaris Dawn will take flight on Tuesday, August 27th, with SpaceX targeting a 3:38AM ET launch time. If there happens to be a delay, SpaceX has set two additional<\/a> launch times for 5:23AM ET and 7:09AM ET.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Crew Dragon capsule will launch aboard SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
How to watch the Polaris Dawn launch<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nYou can watch a livestream of the mission from SpaceX\u2019s website<\/a> and its X page<\/a>. Coverage will begin at around 12:05AM ET. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
First announced in 2022<\/a>, Polaris Dawn is a mission funded by billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman. In addition to Isaacman, three other privately-trained astronauts will embark on the mission, including retired US Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, as well as SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Only Isaacman and Gillis will perform the spacewalk, which will take place around 430 miles above Earth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Once launched into orbit, the four crew members will eventually reach a maximum altitude of around 870 miles, making it the furthest astronauts have traveled since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. They\u2019ll also fly through the Van Allen belts, two bands of radiation NASA says consist<\/a> of high-energy particles that come from the Sun and the atmosphere\u2019s interaction with cosmic rays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The spacewalk isn\u2019t the only objective of the Polaris Dawn mission. The astronauts will also test SpaceX\u2019s extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, which are made with new materials for improved mobility. These suits are paired with a 3D-printed helmet with a heads-up display and a visor designed to mitigate glare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n All four astronauts will wear the upgraded suits when the spacewalk takes place, as the Crew Dragon doesn\u2019t have an airlock, leaving the crew members inside the capsule \u201cexposed to the vacuum of space,\u201d according to SpaceX<\/a>. During the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will perform tests with the new spacesuits. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Since the capsule will pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, the mission will also contribute to research about the effects of space radiation on the human body. Additionally, the Polaris Dawn crew will test Starlink\u2019s satellite internet technology to communicate with Earth, as well as conduct research on decompression sickness<\/a> and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Polaris Dawn will take flight on Tuesday, August 27th, with SpaceX targeting a 3:38AM ET launch time. If there happens to be a delay, SpaceX has set two additional<\/a> launch times for 5:23AM ET and 7:09AM ET.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Crew Dragon capsule will launch aboard SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You can watch a livestream of the mission from SpaceX\u2019s website<\/a> and its X page<\/a>. Coverage will begin at around 12:05AM ET. <\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhy is Polaris Dawn so important?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
When is Polaris Dawn?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
How to watch the Polaris Dawn launch<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n