American tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has embarked on a five-day mission on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the goal of performing the first private spacewalk on Thursday. Isaacman is sharing the cost of the flight and is accompanied by a pair of SpaceX engineers and a former United States Air Force pilot. The crew will be conducting up to 40 experiments, including inter-satellite laser communication, during their mission on the spacecraft named Resilience.
The mission, called Polaris Dawn, is the first of three trips that Isaacman bought from SpaceX founder Elon Musk, with the aim of pushing the frontiers with the private sector in space exploration. The spacewalk, scheduled to last two hours, will be a significant milestone as it has traditionally been reserved for professional astronauts since the 1960s.
While some critics question the role of billionaires in space exploration, Isaacman emphasizes the importance of inspiring future generations to explore the solar system. With the goal of making spacesuits more accessible and cost-effective for a variety of astronauts, the spacewalk will test new astronaut suits by twisting bodies while maintaining contact with the spacecraft, rather than floating freely in space.
Isaacman’s willingness to invest in space exploration and his determination to make it more accessible and inclusive have been praised by SpaceX officials and ground control. As the crew completes their mission and prepares for the historic spacewalk on Thursday, the world waits to see what new discoveries and advancements will come from this private space exploration initiative.
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