Tech Tycoon Embarks on Historic First Private Spacewalk

A tech tycoon ventured hundreds of miles above Earth on Thursday to embark on the first private spacewalk, heralding a historic moment for space research. This remarkable feat, once strictly the domain of professional astronauts, marked a significant milestone for private space travel.

Jared Isaacman, a tech entrepreneur, collaborated with SpaceX to conduct the spacewalk, testing the company’s new spacesuits aboard his privately chartered flight. The mission also featured SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, who performed her own spacewalk after Isaacman returned safely inside the spacecraft. While the spacewalk was relatively brief compared to the more extended operations conducted by NASA astronauts, it still represented a significant leap forward in commercial space endeavors.

Time frame

Unlike NASA’s complex and lengthy s-walks at the International Space Station (ISS), which often involve hours of movement across the station’s massive structure for repairs and maintenance, this private spacewalk was much shorter and simpler. NASA spacewalks can last up to seven or eight hours, whereas Isaacman’s walk in space clocked in at under two hours, with the capsule’s hatch remaining open for just about 30 minutes.

Jared the first private individual Spacewalkers

Isaacman became the first private individual to join the elite ranks of spacewalkers, a group previously composed exclusively of professional astronauts from just 12 nations. As he floated above the Earth, with the vast blue planet stretching out beneath him, he reflected on the awe-inspiring view. He said, “We all have a lot of work to do back at home.” However, from this vantage point, the world appears to be ideal. Standing waist high at the time, his silhouette was photographed by the spacecraft’s cameras against the deep blue of Earth.

The turning point of the five-day expedition, which was sponsored by Isaacman in collaboration with Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, was the commercial walk in space. This mission was the culmination of years of development and testing, designed with the ultimate goal of advancing human space exploration beyond Earth and toward settlements on Mars and other planets.

All four crew members aboard the flight, including Isaacman, donned the new spacesuits developed by SpaceX. These suits are designed to protect astronauts from the harsh vacuum of space. The crew launched from Florida on Tuesday, embarking on a journey that took them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled since NASA’s Apollo moon missions. For the walk, the crew’s orbit was reduced to 460 miles (740 kilometers) above Earth, lower than their original position but still higher than the ISS.

Primary Objective

The primary objective of this incident was to test the new suits and evaluate their performance in a real space environment. Isaacman spent the entire time tethered to the capsule, keeping a hand or foot in contact with the spacecraft while flexing his arms and legs to assess the suit’s flexibility and durability. The hatch of the capsule was outfitted with a supportive structure to aid in the spacewalk. After approximately 10 minutes outside the capsule, Isaacman returned inside, allowing Sarah Gillis to perform her own spacewalk. She mimicked Isaacman’s movements, stretching her limbs and providing feedback to Mission Control while floating just outside the capsule.

Both Isaacman and Gillis were equipped with 12-foot (3.6-meter) tethers, although they did not fully extend them or dangle from the spacecraft as is commonly seen during NASA spacewalks. Unlike space station astronauts who float in much lower orbits, this crew remained securely attached to their spacecraft throughout the operation.

Private Spacewalk benefits

As space travel becomes more accessible to private citizens, more and more wealthy individuals are paying substantial sums for the opportunity to experience spaceflight. While many space tourists are content with brief moments of weightlessness, some are seeking more daring adventures, including spacewalks. Space experts and analysts predict that spacewalking, while one of the most dangerous aspects of space exploration, will become increasingly sought after by private individuals. A spacewalk carries significant risks, not unlike the perils of launch and reentry, but it is also considered one of the most profound and awe-inspiring experiences space has to offer.

The private spacewalk was carefully choreographed, with every minute planned out to minimize risks. Testing new spacesuits from a spacecraft that had never been used for spacewalks added complexity to the operation. Additionally, the fact that the entire capsule was exposed to the vacuum of space during the spacewalk introduced further risks. A few minor issues arose during the mission, including a malfunction with the hatch, which Isaacman had to open manually instead of using the automated button system. Gillis also reported noticing some bulging in the hatch seal before she exited the capsule. However, these glitches were quickly addressed, and the mission proceeded without major incident.

Two additional crew members observed the happenings from within the capsule, secured into their respective positions. Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot, and Anna Menon, a SpaceX engineer, assisted from within the spacecraft while Isaacman and Gillis carried out the spacewalk. All four crew members underwent rigorous training in preparation for the mission, ensuring they were equipped to handle any challenges they might face.

Details

The entire spacewalk lasted one hour and 46 minutes, a full orbit around the Earth, and was hailed as a major success. Commentator for SpaceX Kate Tice said, “It went by in the blink of an eye,” when the spacewalk ended. Many authorities and groups applauded the spacewalk after it was completed, among them NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who wrote on social media site X (previously Twitter) that the spacewalk was a “giant leap forward for the commercial space sector”.

Isaacman, the 41-year-old CEO and founder of Shift4, a credit card processing company, has not disclosed the exact amount he invested in the flight. This mission, dubbed Polaris Dawn, is the first of three planned flights in Isaacman’s Polaris program. He flew with competition winners and a cancer fighter on SpaceX’s first private trip in 2021, which was his prior spaceflight experience.

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