SpaceX Polaris Dawn private spacewalk mission: Live updates

SpaceX’s new glimpse at Polaris Dawn spacewalk

SpaceX has released a new computer animation of what the Polaris Dawn private spacwalk will look like next week when Jared Isaacman opens the Dragon capsule hatch. 

The rendering shows what appears to be handrails extending out from the Dragon hatch, which Isaacman can use to help stand up with most of his body outside of the spacecraft. The depiction shows the Dragon crewmember with their feet still inside the capsule, likely strapped into a stabilization or mobility aid, which SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn crew have worked to develop over the last two years. You can see the rendering here:

“The rendering gives a solid sense of what it’ll be like,” Isaacman wrote on X (formerly Twitter. “Dragon’s forward hatch should generally point towards Earth. The Dracos near the forward bulkhead will be disabled & as we cycle crew members between EV1/EV2, we’ll have opportunities to correct attitude or null rotation.”

SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn launch to Aug. 27

SpaceX has delayed the launch of the private Polaris Dawn spaceflight by at least 24 hours to allow more time for final preflight checks. The launch of Polaris Dawn, a private mission backed by American billionaire Jared Isaacman, is now scheduled to launch no earlier than Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT). 

“Targeting Tuesday, August 27 for launch of Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program’s three human spaceflight missions designed to advance the future of spaceflight,” SpaceX wrote in an update on X (formerly Twitter) late Aug. 21. “The new date allows additional time for teams to complete preflight checkouts ahead of next week’s launch.”

New launch date: Aug. 27

The Polaris Dawn mission is now scheduled to launch on Aug. 27, a day later than originally planned. 

“The new date allows additional time for teams to complete preflight checkouts ahead of next week’s launch,” SpaceX wrote in a post on X. 

“We will happily take an extra day to ensure readiness,” mission commander Jared Isaacman wrote in a post on X.

Polaris Dawn raises millions for St. Jude

As the Polaris Dawn crew prepares for their private launch to space on Aug. 26 with SpaceX, the mission’s fundraising arm is in full swing for its chosen nonprofit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which studies and treats cancer in children. 

Polaris Dawn commander Jared Isaacman said his first spaceflight, 2021’s Inspiration4, “raised over $250 million for them. We’ve raised millions since with Polaris Dawn, and will continue to do so throughout the duration of the Polaris program.”

In conjunction with the efforts of Isaacman and the Polaris Dawn crew, the mission has found partners to help raise more funds for St. Jude. 

Doritos has crafted a new Zero Gravity Cool Ranch chip designed for safe snacking in weightlessness and offering the chips and space-flown tins a s prizes as part of its fundraising project, which you can find at https://doritos.experience.stjude.org/. So far, the project has raised more than $538,000 and is nearing its goal of $585,000.

Meanwhile, luxury watch maker IWC Schaffhausen has donated a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” watch, which will be worn on the flight and be auctioned off to benefit St. Jude after the flight. 

Mission specialist Anna Menon also wrote a children’s book, called “Kisses from Space,” that she’ll read during the flight, with proceeds from the book’s sale going to St. Jude. 

Polaris Dawn crew 1 week from launch

The four private astronauts of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission are a week away from launch after two years of training for a mission that, they hope, will include the world’s first private spacewalk. 

American billionaire Jared Isaacman, who previously backed his private Inspiration4 spaceflight with SpaceX, will command the Polaris Dawn mission, the first of three new spaceflights he’s purchased from SpaceX. 

Isaacman, pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both Lead Space Operations Engineers at SpaceX, arrived at their launch site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Aug. 19. Liftoff is set for Aug. 26 at 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT). 

The mission, announced in 2022, will test new spacesuits for SpaceX during a planned 2-hour spacewalk during the five-day mission. On Aug. 19, the crew spoke with reporters about their upcoming mission. 

Read all about it in our wrap story here from Space.com’s Josh Dinner.

Doritos heads to space with Polaris Dawn

The Polaris Dawn will have some brand new snacks in space when they launch on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience on Aug. 26. 

Doritos is flying a brand-new type of safe-for-space Zero Gravity Cool Ranch Doritos chips during the private spaceflight. The limited-edition flavor is available for sale online and contains an oil-based coating to keep Doritos’ classic powdered topping from floating away in weightlessness. 

“The limitless possibilities of space inspired us to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Chris Bellinger, chief creative officer of PepsiCo Foods North America, in a statement. “This mission is a testament to our commitment to delivering bold experiences and flavors, even in the most unexpected places.”

You can read more about the new space Doritos in our full story by Robert Pearlman of collectSPACE.com.