SpaceX has delayed its first mission for private astronauts to perform a spacewalk due to bad weather forecasts and a previous technical issue.
The mission, called Polaris Dawn, was set to launch from NASA’s Florida space center early on Wednesday but will be postponed. The launch was already pushed back from Tuesday because of a helium leak in the rocket.
Jared Isaacman, a billionaire behind the mission, aims to make history as the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space. He has organized and funded the mission with SpaceX, although he hasn’t revealed the cost.
The mission uses a SpaceX Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket to reach high altitudes, potentially breaking records from the Apollo era.
The crew includes Isaacman, retired Air Force pilot Scott Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. They have trained extensively for this mission, which plans to spend six days in space with a spacewalk scheduled for the third day.
During the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will wear upgraded SpaceX spacesuits and conduct tests related to satellite communication and radiation.
The mission is a significant step in private space exploration and reflects the increasing interest and investment in this field.
For more details, BBC reports that SpaceX’s delay highlights both the challenges and ambitions of private space ventures.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn47019e7l7o