Polaris

SpaceX

This astronaut crossed the Kármán Line (100 km), the internationally accepted boundary of space.

Crossed Kármán Line

Scott “Kidd” Poteet is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who served 20 years in various roles that include Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird #4 Demonstration Pilot, USAF Weapons School Graduate, Operational Test & Evaluation Pilot, and Flight Examiner. Kidd is a command pilot with over 3,200 flying hours in the F-16, A-4, T-38, T-37, T-3, and Alpha Jet. Kidd has logged over 400 hours of combat time during Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Joint Guardian, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Resolute Support. Caption courtesy of Polaris Dawn.

Polaris Dawn

The Polaris Dawn Mission took major steps in the advancement of human spaceflight. 

During the 5-day flight, Commander Jared Isaacman and Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis made history by performing the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Since the Crew Dragon spacecraft doesn’t have an airlock, the entire capsule was depressurized, exposing all four crew members to the dangers of space. Isaacman stepped out first, spending nearly eight minutes outside, followed by Gillis, making her the youngest person to participate in a spacewalk. Meanwhile, Pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and Mission Specialist & Medical Officer Anna Menon remained inside the capsule with their suits for protection, monitoring systems and ensuring the safety of the operation. 

This groundbreaking event not only marked an important milestone in commercial spaceflight but also demonstrated the capabilities of SpaceX’s newly designed EVA suits, paving the way for future missions beyond Earth. 

The Polaris Dawn mission also tested Starlink’s laser technology in space, ensuring fast and uninterrupted communications for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis became the first to play a violin in space, creating a global musical message called “Harmony of Resilience,” supported by legendary Star Wars composer John Williams and musicians around the world. 

While orbiting Earth, the crew performed important health research to help us understand how space travel affects humans. They used ultrasound to check for gas bubbles in the blood, studied how space radiation impacts the human body, and gathered biological samples for long-term studies. They also researched vision problems astronauts can experience during long missions. Polaris Dawn worked with top research institutions and universities to carry out this critical science. 

The mission explored how to make space accessible and safer for more people. They tested a continuous glucose monitor to ensure diabetic astronauts can safely travel in space. 

The crew also experimented with performing life-saving CPR in microgravity conditions, which is crucial as more people travel to space. Finally, they investigated how astronauts adapt back to gravity after space missions and tested whether medications remain useful in space conditions.

Crew Dragon is the first privately built and operated orbital spacecraft capable of flying humans. As a reusable SpaceX capsule, it transports crew members to and from the International Space Station. It will also carry paying customers to the Station and low Earth orbit. While it typically accommodates a crew of four, this number can vary depending on the mission.

Crew Dragon

Scott Poteet

United States of America

This astronaut became the first commercial spacewalker

First Commercial Spacewalker

Inspiration4

Inspiration4 was the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission was commanded by Jared Isaacman, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Named in recognition of the four-person crew that raised awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this milestone represented a new era for human spaceflight and exploration.

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