---
title: "Updated Status of the Polaris Dawn Mission as of September 1, 2024"
id: 95052
type: "post"
slug: "updated-status-of-the-polaris-dawn-mission-as-of-september-1-2024"
author: "NSE"
published: "2024-09-01T18:52:50+00:00"
modified: "2024-09-01T18:55:32+00:00"
canonical: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2024/09/01/updated-status-of-the-polaris-dawn-mission-as-of-september-1-2024/"
markdown_url: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2024/09/01/updated-status-of-the-polaris-dawn-mission-as-of-september-1-2024.md"
description: "The Polaris Dawn mission, a groundbreaking commercial spaceflight led by Jared Isaacman in partnership with SpaceX, is now scheduled for launch on September…"
language: "en-US"
category:
  - "Space Economy"
post_tag:
  - "Apollo Program"
  - "Commercial Market"
  - "Commercial Spaceflight"
  - "Crew Dragon"
  - "Falcon 9"
  - "Gravity"
  - "Kennedy Space Center"
  - "Radiation"
  - "Research"
  - "Spacecraft"
  - "Spaceflight"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "Starlink"
---

# Updated Status of the Polaris Dawn Mission as of September 1, 2024

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/img_1733-1.jpg?resize=696%2C522&ssl=1)

The [Polaris Dawn](https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/) mission, a groundbreaking commercial spaceflight led by [Jared Isaacman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Isaacman) in partnership with [SpaceX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX), is now scheduled for launch on [September 4, 2024, at 3:38 a.m. EDT](https://www.wmur.com/article/new-launch-date-for-spacex-polaris-dawn-mission-wednesday-sept-4-delayed/62025472) from [Kennedy Space Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center), Florida.

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/img_2135-1.jpg?resize=696%2C145&ssl=1)

*[https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp](https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp)*

This comes after several delays, the most recent being due to adverse weather conditions. The mission aims to reach the highest [Earth orbit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit_of_Earth) since the [Apollo program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program) and conduct the first commercial [spacewalk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extravehicular_activity). The crew will also perform 36 research experiments and test [Starlink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink)‘s laser-based communication system during their multi-day mission in orbit.

Polaris Dawn is the inaugural mission of the Polaris Program, which seeks to advance commercial space exploration through a series of ambitious objectives. The mission’s key goals include achieving an [apogee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsis) of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) above Earth, making it the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo era. This altitude will provide an unprecedented opportunity to study the effects of space radiation on human health, a critical concern for future deep-space missions, including potential crewed missions to [Mars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars).

Jared Isaacman, the mission commander, along with [SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/) engineer Sarah Gillis, will venture outside the [Crew Dragon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew_Dragon) spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight. The spacewalk will occur without a traditional airlock, requiring the entire spacecraft to be depressurized—a complex and risky maneuver that underscores the mission’s pioneering spirit.

The Polaris Dawn crew consists of four members: Jared Isaacman, Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon. All crew members have undergone extensive training, including simulations, [centrifuge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Centrifuge) operations, zero-gravity flights, and EVA suit testing. Their rigorous preparation reflects the mission’s challenging objectives and the crew’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of commercial space exploration.

Jared Isaacman, who previously commanded the [Inspiration4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspiration4) mission, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Scott Poteet, a retired [U.S. Air Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force) pilot, will serve as the mission pilot, while [SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/) engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon will take on roles as mission specialists. This mission marks the first spaceflight for Poteet, Gillis, and Menon, highlighting the program’s focus on expanding access to space for civilian astronauts.

The Polaris Dawn mission will launch aboard a [SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/) [Falcon 9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9) rocket, with the Crew Dragon “Resilience” spacecraft making its third journey to space. The Falcon 9 booster, designated B1083, is set to make its fourth flight and will aim for a recovery on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the [Atlantic Ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean). The mission is expected to last several days, with the spacecraft returning to Earth via a splashdown at sea.