Mission Overview

SpaceX and the Polaris Program have unveiled plans for Polaris Dawn, the first of up to three human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct extensive research, and ultimately culminate in the first flight of SpaceX’s Starship with humans on board. Polaris Dawn is targeted to launch no earlier than the summer of 2024 from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Polaris Dawn crew, led by Jared Isaacman, will spend up to five days in orbit, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavoring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown. This will require additional propellant reserves, as Dragon does not have the capability to reach and sustain this orbit on its own. Polaris Dawn will leverage the deep space communications capabilities of the Starlink satellite network and will carry a new space suit, designed by SpaceX, that has been optimized for the Dragon vehicle.

Crew

The Polaris Dawn crew consists of:

• Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander, an accomplished pilot and astronaut who commanded the Inspiration4 mission
• Scott Poteet, Mission Pilot, a veteran member of Jared’s team with extensive experience in high-performance aircraft
• Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist, Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX with experience on multiple cargo and crew Dragon missions
• Anna Menon, Medical Officer, Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX who served as mission control for multiple resupply missions to the International Space Station and Crew-1

Research and Experiments

While in orbit, the Polaris Dawn crew will conduct research designed to advance human health on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights. Areas of research will include:

Decompression Sickness

Polaris Dawn will monitor crew members before, during, and after the mission using state-of-the-art research tools, including portable ultrasound, to better characterize the effects of exposure to a vacuum environment on the human body. This research, done in partnership with experts from the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, could provide valuable insights into predicting and preventing decompression sickness.

Radiation Exposure

Using a cutting-edge instrument developed by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the crew will collect data on the radiation environment inside the spacecraft to better understand how space radiation affects human biological systems. This research will help inform the development of future protective technologies.

Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)

In collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine, TRISH, and other partners, the crew will leverage retinal imaging technology to capture images of their eyes, helping to characterize the effects of microgravity and space radiation on vision. This research could lead to a better understanding of SANS and the development of preventative measures.

Biological Sample Collection

The crew will collect research-grade samples to examine any changes in their immune function, microbiome, genome, and more. Samples will be collected at multiple points before, during, and after the mission. Analysis of these samples could improve our understanding of how the human body adapts to the space environment.

Ultrasound Capability

Using a portable ultrasound, the crew will capture images of their organs to monitor changes over the course of the mission. This research, done in collaboration with TRISH, could help pave the way for more autonomous medical capabilities on future space missions.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA)

Building upon the commercial EVA research conducted on Inspiration4, Polaris Dawn will conduct a spacewalk to further test the new SpaceX EVA suit. This demonstration could provide valuable data for the development of future EVA suits for missions to the Moon and Mars.

Starlink

Polaris Dawn will test laser-based communications in space using the Starlink satellite network. High-speed, reliable communications are critical to human spaceflight, and this demonstration of Starlink’s capabilities could help lay the groundwork for future missions.

Outreach and Inspiration

The Polaris Dawn mission aims to inspire the next generation of explorers and raise awareness for causes on Earth. Throughout the mission, the crew will participate in outreach events and use Starlink to communicate with students and educators. The mission will also raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, building upon the $240 million raised through Inspiration4.

Looking Ahead

Polaris Dawn is the first step towards the Polaris Program’s ultimate goal of rapidly advancing human spaceflight capabilities while continuing to raise funds and awareness for important causes here on Earth. The program aims to demonstrate technologies and conduct research that will help enable future long-duration human spaceflight missions and ultimately, the first crewed missions to Mars.

The Polaris Program represents an exciting new era in human spaceflight, one in which private companies like SpaceX are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. By collaborating with leading research institutions and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the Polaris Dawn mission will not only advance our understanding of human health in space but also inspire a new generation to look to the stars.