Polaris Dawn live updates: SpaceX launches 4 private astronauts for historic spacewalk mission Tuesday morning

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Published  September 10, 2024 6:40am EDT
FOX 35 Orlando
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SpaceX successfully launches Polaris Dawn historic spacewalk mission

SpaceX's Falcon 9 has launched four Polaris Dawn astronauts from Florida, featuring the first commercial spacewalk and aiming for the highest altitude since Apollo.

The Brief

    • The Polaris Program launched its first mission, Polaris Dawn, on Tuesday, sending four private astronauts aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 to advance spaceflight technology
    • The rocket successfully lifted off at 5:23 a.m. ET.
    • The multi-day mission will feature the first commercial spacewalk with a next-gen spacesuit and aim to reach the highest altitude since Apollo.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - History in the making! After several delays, SpaceX's Falcon 9 successfully launched four private astronauts to low-Earth orbit for the Polaris Dawn spacewalk mission on Tuesday morning. 

The rocket lifted off at 5:23 a.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Initially planned for late August, the launch was pushed to Tuesday due to unfavorable weather.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon Resilience capsule, carrying the crew of the Polaris Dawn Mission, lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on September 10, 2024. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon Resilience capsule, carrying the crew of the Polaris Dawn Mission, lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on September 10, 2024. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon Resilience capsule, carrying the crew of the Polaris Dawn Mission, lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on September 10, 2024. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

SpaceX crews monitoring the weather ahead of Tuesday's launch reported an 80% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff.

The crew is set to perform a spacewalk on Thursday, September 12. 

Polaris Dawn live updates

FOX 35 News is providing live updates on the spacewalk mission as it happens below:

5:46 a.m. update: 

The Dragon spacecraft separated from Falcon 9's second stage. The Dragon and Polaris Dawn crew can be followed during their mission by clicking here.

5:34 a.m. update: 

SpaceX confirmed the Falcon 9’s first stage booster has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship.

5:23 a.m. update:

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Florida carrying four private astronauts into low Earth-orbit for the Polaris Dawn historic commercial spacewalk mission.

4:49 a.m. update:

We are less than 35 minutes away from liftoff:

2:55 a.m. update:

SpaceX is now targeting 5:23 a.m. ET for the Falcon 9 launch of the Polaris Dawn mission, the agency announced on the social media platform X. 

The four-hour window was originally set to begin at 3:38 a.m., but was pushed back because of unfavorable weather conditions at the launch site. 

2:20 a.m. update:

The Polaris Dawn astronauts have arrived at the launch pad.

2:24 a.m. update:

In anticipation of the Polaris Dawn mission, the Polaris Program took to social media to share the research the crew will be conducting in space. Watch the video below:

What is the mission?

The Polaris Program, designed to test and develop new spaceflight technology, will begin a new chapter in commercial space exploration with the launch of its first mission, Polaris Dawn, using SpaceX's Falcon 9.

The multi-day mission to orbit will include the first commercial spacewalk with a next-gen spacesuit, an attempt to reach the highest altitude since Apollo, and testing new communication technology via Starlink. 

"The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew Crew-1 to and from the International Space Station, and Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit," according to SpaceX's website. "This will be the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-8 and two Starlink missions."

Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage is expected to land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

"This Dragon mission will take advantage of Falcon 9 and Dragon’s maximum performance, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavoring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown," Polaris Dawn said. "Orbiting through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt, Polaris Dawn will conduct research with the aim of better understanding the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health."

Who are the Polaris Program astronauts?

  • Jared Isaacman (Mission Commander)
  • Scott "Kidd" Poteet (Mission Pilot)
  • Sarah Gillis (Mission Specialist)
  • Anna Menon (Mission Specialist and Medical Officer)

BOCA CHICA, TX - FEBRUARY 11:  The Crew of the next SpaceX private astronaut flight called Polaris Dawn, (Left to Right) Anna Menon, who works to develop astronaut operations for SpaceX, Sarah Gillis, lead space operations engineer, SpaceX, Scott Pot …

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The Source

  • SpaceX and the Polaris Program provided the information that is included in this article. 

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