New Delhi:After several delays, SpaceX is set to launch its long-awaited Polaris Dawn mission on Friday, September 6, 2024. The space mission is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A during a four-hour window beginning at 3:33 a.m. EDT.
The day coincides with the day the unmanned Starliner spacecraft undocked from the ISS for its return to Earth. SpaceX’s historic mission is notable not only for its ambitious goal of flying higher in Earth orbit than any since the Apollo program, but also for including the first spacewalk by private citizens.
The beginning of a new era in space exploration
Led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, Polaris Dawn is more than just a spaceflight, as it will put civilians at the center of the space exploration mission. Ushering in a new era in space exploration, the mission aims to reach a maximum altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers), the highest reached by a crewed mission in more than 50 years since NASA’s Apollo program. The mission also aims to conduct research to help provide insights into human health during long-duration spaceflight missions.
Where to watch it live:
It has a crew consisting of mission commander Jared Isaacman, Scott Poteet (a veteran Air Force pilot with 20 years of experience) and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis.
The crew will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 1:03 p.m. IST, and the event will be streamed live on SpaceX’s on-X page.
Upon launch, the crew will embark on a five-day orbital mission. The crew will conduct 36 scientific experiments focused on advancing human health research, both on Earth and during long-duration spaceflight. They will also test Starlink’s laser-based communications system in space.
This latest space mission represents a major advance in private space exploration.
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