Who Are the Astronauts Participating in the Spacewalk?

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission Conducts Historical Spacewalk

The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission successfully executed a spacewalk on Thursday, with two astronauts venturing out of the capsule into Earth’s orbit while securely tethered to the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Launching on Tuesday after a delay of over a week due to technical challenges, this mission featured a crew of four astronauts equipped with SpaceX’s latest spacesuits and a redesigned spacecraft.

Jared Isaacman, a billionaire and CEO of Shift4 Payments, was the first astronaut to exit the capsule at approximately 6:52 a.m. ET (10:52 GMT), followed closely by Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer. This marks a historic moment as they become the first two non-government individuals to undertake a spacewalk.

The spacewalk officially concluded around 8 a.m. ET.

Profiles of the Astronauts:

Jared Isaacman
As the commander of the Polaris Dawn mission, Isaacman is a seasoned pilot with a deep background in aviation. He is also financing the mission through his Polaris program, although he has not disclosed the total cost, which is thought to be in the hundreds of millions. This mission is Isaacman’s second journey into space, following his leadership of the all-civilian Inspiration4 mission in 2021. He has future plans for two more flights under the Polaris program, but specific details regarding crewmates and dates remain unannounced.

Sarah Gillis
Gillis is ascending from trainer to astronaut, representing a significant career development. An engineering graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder, she began her journey at SpaceX as an intern in 2015 and has since become a senior space operations engineer. As a mission specialist for Polaris Dawn, Gillis has extensive experience training NASA astronauts for various missions, including those to the International Space Station.

Scott Poteet
Poteet serves as the mission pilot for Polaris Dawn. With a decorated 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force, he has amassed over 3,200 flight hours across numerous aircraft. His transition to the private space sector began as the Mission Director for the Inspiration4 mission. In addition to piloting duties, Poteet plays a crucial role during the spacewalk by providing communication support and collaborating with mission control.

Anna Menon
Menon acts as both a mission specialist and medical officer for the Polaris Dawn program. As a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX, she is responsible for overseeing crew operations and ensuring protocols are in place for astronaut safety during the mission. With a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and prior experience as a NASA biomedical flight controller, she will monitor the crew’s health and provide necessary medical care throughout the mission. Menon is married to Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut-in-training and former flight surgeon for SpaceX.

Overall, the Polaris Dawn mission not only exemplifies advancements in private space exploration but also sets new precedents for future missions beyond government-led initiatives.