In a historic first for commercial spaceflight, Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4, stepped outside a SpaceX capsule for a private spacewalk, marking one of the riskiest missions yet for Elon Musk’s space venture. Isaacman, no stranger to high-stakes endeavors, is leading the Polaris Dawn mission, which aims to push the boundaries of private space exploration.
The four-member crew, which includes a retired military fighter pilot and two SpaceX engineers, has been orbiting Earth since their pre-dawn launch on Tuesday. After a few hours’ delay, Isaacman and crew took the plunge—well, the float—into space, testing out SpaceX’s latest line of spacesuits in an environment that would make even the most experienced astronaut a little nervous.
At around 435 miles above Earth, the Crew Dragon capsule was depressurized, leaving the team fully dependent on their sleek, SpaceX-developed suits for oxygen. This is Elon Musk’s latest daring move to showcase that private space travel isn’t just a far-off dream—it’s happening right now, even if you have to shell out hundreds of millions to get a ticket.
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission has achieved a historic milestone with the successful completion of the world’s first commercial spacewalk.
This groundbreaking event has garnered praise from experts and enthusiasts alike, marking a significant step forward in private space… pic.twitter.com/xl16ezQ4bx— Rafael Santiago (@RaphySantiag) September 14, 2024
Isaacman’s first step into the great beyond was captured in a SpaceX post on X at 6:53 a.m., where he performed mobility tests designed to evaluate hand and body control in zero gravity. From his incredible vantage point, he couldn’t help but be struck by the beauty of Earth, saying, “From here, it sure looks like a perfect world.” Minutes later, he marveled, “It’s gorgeous.”
Isaacman, who has already bankrolled the Polaris mission just as he did his Inspiration4 flight in 2021, has remained tight-lipped on the total cost of these cosmic endeavors. But considering that a single seat on Crew Dragon runs about $55 million, it’s safe to assume this adventure is somewhere in the realm of hundreds of millions. That’s the price you pay to make history.
Isaacman’s crew for the Polaris Dawn mission is no less impressive. Scott Poteet, a 50-year-old retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, serves as mission pilot, while Sarah Gillis, 30, and Anna Menon, 38, both senior SpaceX engineers, round out the team. After Isaacman finished his spacewalk, Gillis took her turn outside the capsule, making the crew’s accomplishments even more impressive.
This mission, while focused on testing new spacesuit technology and pushing SpaceX further into the realm of private space exploration, also symbolizes something larger: the growing presence of billionaire-backed space adventures. It’s a world where the final frontier is becoming more accessible—but only for those with the right connections and, of course, the deep pockets to match.
