Polaris is the new SpaceX program that promises to take humans one step further in the field of space travel. The Polaris program has been financed by businessman Jared Isaacman, who already headed what was SpaceX’s first manned commercial mission at the time. Now, the tycoon has decided to buy a new travel package from the company led by Elon Musk; including the first manned launch of the amazing Starship.
Polaris Dawn is the name under which the first mission of the Isaacman-funded program has been released. So far, the mission is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2022; and to carry it out the company will use the Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 ships. In addition, Jared Isaacman has signed up as one of the crew members of the project.
Also, during the announcement of the Polaris program, it was revealed that the crew of the new missions will be: Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet, former Air Force pilot who led the Inspiration4 mission; Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both operations engineers who have also participated in the Inspiration4 mission as astronauts. Additionally, Jared Isaacman himself will be on board as mission commander.
The Polaris Program is an important step in advancing human space exploration; while helping to solve problems through the use of innovative technology here on Earth.
Launch Complex 39A, located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will be the star of Polaris Dawn’s liftoff. Here, the Falcon 9 spacecraft will leave the mainland for a five-day mission that hopes to achieve several milestones. The first of these will be to reach higher and farther than any other manned spacecraft since the Apollo spacecraft in the 1970s. In addition, Polaris Dawn will test the communications efficiency of the Starlink satellites. The program also hopes to conduct scientific research on human health in space.
To assess the effects of travel on human health, the Polaris Dawn program will test its crew members before and after conducting the first civilian spacewalk. In this way, the program hopes to assess the effects of decompression on the human body; using ultrasonic technology to test human resistance to it. On the other hand, the way in which height affects the brain and eyes, known as neuro-ocular syndrome associated with space flight, will be studied.
It is expected that during the SpaceX mission, at least one of the crew will go outside the Crew Dragon ship. Once outside, he will remain tethered to the spaceship. Likewise, the record height that the Polaris program plans to achieve has been strategically studied to orbit in the regions of the Van Allen radiation belt; This is how Polaris will also evaluate the impact of space radiation on the human body.