SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission: Why It's Important and How to Watch the Launch

SpaceX is preparing to launch its historic Polaris Dawn mission, which will send four astronauts into orbit aboard its Crew Dragon capsule. The five-day journey through the Van Allen radiation belts will include the first spacewalk by private astronauts.

If you're interested in the mission, here's what you should know and how to watch it live.

The Polaris Dawn mission was first announced for 2022, and is being funded by billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman. In addition to Isaacman, three other specially trained astronauts will embark on the mission, including retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, as well as SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Only Isaacman and Gillis will perform the spacewalk, which will take place about 430 miles above Earth.

Once launched into orbit, the four crew members will eventually reach a maximum altitude of about 870 miles, making it the farthest distance traveled by astronauts since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. They will also fly through the Van Allen belts, two zones of radiation NASA says it consists of From high-energy particles coming from the sun and the interaction of the atmosphere with cosmic rays.

Spacewalking isn’t the only goal of the Polaris Dawn mission. Astronauts will also test out SpaceX’s extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits made from new materials to improve mobility. The suits are paired with a 3D-printed helmet with a head-up display and a visor designed to reduce glare from the sun.

All four astronauts will wear the upgraded suits when they spacewalk, as the Crew Dragon does not have an air chamber, leaving the crew members inside the capsule “exposed to the vacuum of space,” according to To SpaceXDuring the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will test the new spacesuits.

Since the capsule will pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, the mission will also contribute to research into the effects of space radiation on the human body. In addition, the Polaris Dawn crew will test Starlink satellite internet technology to communicate with Earth, as well as conduct research into high blood pressure and Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome.

The Polaris Dawn spacecraft is set to launch on Tuesday, August 27, with SpaceX targeting a launch time of 3:38 a.m. ET. If there is a delay, SpaceX has identified two additional satellites. Launch times are 5:23 AM ET and 7:09 AM ET.

The Crew Dragon capsule will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

You can watch the live broadcast of the mission from SpaceX website And for her Page XCoverage will begin at approximately 12:05 a.m. ET.

The spacewalk, which will take place on the third day of the mission, will also be broadcast live. It will likely be available on SpaceX's website and on X.