By 
February 14th, 2022
Credit: Polaris Program
Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4, announced today the Polaris Program, a first-of-its-kind effort to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities.
An American billionaire businessman, Isaacman was the commander of the SpaceX flight Inspiration4 in September 2021.
Credit: Polaris Program
No earlier than the fourth quarter of 2022, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Polaris Dawn mission from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit.
Credit: Polaris Program
During that time, the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) with SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, upgraded from the current intravehicular (IVA) suit.
The program will consist of up to three human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct extensive research, “and ultimately culminate in the first flight of SpaceX’s Starship with humans on board,” states a Polaris Program website.
Credit: Polaris Program
First mission objectives
This Polaris Dawn flight will flyer higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavor to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown by humans. Orbiting through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt, Polaris Dawn will conduct research with the aim of better understanding the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health.
At approximately 310 miles (500 kilometers) above the Earth, the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) with SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, upgraded from the current intravehicular (IVA) suit. “Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require thousands of spacesuits; the development of this suit and the execution of the EVA will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions,” the Polaris Program website explains.
Ready for first flight: SpaceX Starship.
Credit: Polaris Project
While in orbit, the crew will conduct scientific research designed to advance both human health on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights.
The Polaris Dawn crew will be the first crew to test Starlink laser-based communications in space, providing valuable data for future space communications system necessary for missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
For more detailed information, go to:
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