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The EVA suit is designed to offer greater mobility and comfort to astronauts, incorporating new materials and an innovative design that allows better flexibility in pressurized environments
In February 2022, the Polaris Program was announced by Jared Isaacman together with SpaceX, an initiative aimed at promoting the development of human spaceflight technology and contributing to important causes on Earth. The first mission of this program, Polaris Dawn, is scheduled to launch into orbit no later than the summer of 2024.
Over the course of a five-day mission, the crew will conduct the first extravehicular activity (EVA) directly from a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft—the first time a commercial spacewalk has been conducted. In addition, it will be the first time that four astronauts will make an exit into space simultaneously.
For this mission, SpaceX has developed an advanced EVA suit, an evolution of the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suits used on current crewed Dragon missions.
This EVA suit is specifically designed to offer greater mobility and comfort to astronauts, incorporating new materials and an innovative design that allows better flexibility in pressurized environments. It includes a 3D-printed helmet with a visor that minimizes glare and features a Heads-Up Display (HUD) and a camera that monitors vital data such as pressure, temperature and relative humidity inside the suit. .
In addition, the suit has been improved to increase safety, because it includes additional seals and pressure valves that ensure adequate pressurization of the suit, essential for the safety of the crew during the spacewalk.
Space suit development has evolved significantly since the early days of universe exploration (SpaceX)
These innovations make the EVA suit part of a modular design, adapting to different body types and facilitating mass production. This feature is essential as SpaceX aims to expand access to space for more people.
Although Polaris Dawn will mark the debut of SpaceX’s EVA suit in low Earth orbit, the long-term goal of this design is much more ambitious: it is intended to support the creation of bases on the Moon and eventually cities on Mars, as part of a effort to make human life a reality on multiple planets. This vast project will require the development of millions of these spacesuits to facilitate future space exploration.
The Polaris Program represents a significant advance in the field of crewed space exploration. This project, whose name is inspired by the well-known North Star, symbolizes the effort to advance human knowledge and capabilities beyond the limits of the Earth. To simultaneously maintain a commitment to fundraising and raising awareness about crucial issues on our planet.
With a plan to execute three manned space missions, the Polaris Program aims to demonstrate emerging technologies and conduct detailed research that will inform future space explorations, including missions to the Moon and Mars. The initiative will begin with the Polaris Dawn mission, which will take off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, located in Florida.
During a flight that will last up to five days in orbit, the Polaris Dawn mission will seek to reach the highest orbit ever achieved by a Dragon mission. This stage of the program will include a series of crucial activities, such as carrying out a spacewalk, supporting scientific research aimed at improving the understanding of human health both on Earth and in the context of future long-duration space missions. Additionally, this mission will be the first to test laser-based communications in space through the Starlink network.
Four highly qualified members make up the crew, who combine their experience, knowledge and passion for space exploration to advance humanity’s goal of exploring space.
- Jared Isaacman will be Mission Commander: he brings spaceflight experience, leadership and a deep commitment to space exploration.
- Scott Poteet assumes the role of Mission Pilot: with extensive knowledge of aviation and space operations that is crucial to the success of the mission.
- Sara Gillis, Mission Specialist: Provides technical expertise and experience to meaningfully contribute to mission objectives.
- Anna Menón, in the dual role of Mission Specialist and Medical Officer: combining her experience in biomedical engineering with essential medical skills to ensure the well-being and safety of the crew during the mission.
One of the most striking features of the new EVA suit is its 3D printed helmet, equipped with a visor designed to reduce solar glare (SpaceX)
- Reach an unprecedented altitude: Using the full capabilities of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule, Polaris Dawn aims to fly higher than any previous Dragon mission, to reach the highest Earth orbit ever recorded. By orbiting areas of the Van Allen radiation belt, research will be conducted to better understand the effects of space radiation and space flight on human health.
- Conduct the first commercial spacewalk: Approximately 700 kilometers above Earth, the crew will carry out the first commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) in spacesuits developed by SpaceX. This suit, an evolution of the current one for intravehicular use (IVA), incorporates significant improvements such as greater mobility, a helmet with a head-up display (HUD), and a state-of-the-art camera, essential for the development of bases on the Moon and cities on Mars.
- Innovate in space communications: Polaris Dawn will test Starlink laser-based communications for the first time in space, providing crucial data for the development of communication systems on future space missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
- Advance health research in space: The crew will conduct scientific studies to improve the understanding of human health both on Earth and on long-duration space missions. That includes the use of ultrasound to detect venous air embolisms, space radiation data collection, multi-omics analysis of biological samples, and research related to spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS).
SpaceX and Polaris Dawn will collaborate with various institutions such as the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, and other prestigious research centers to carry out these studies.
