The Polaris Dawn mission, which launched on September 10, 2024, is a groundbreaking private spaceflight that will conduct an extensive suite of 36 scientific experiments during its five days in orbit. Led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, the four-person crew will fly aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to an altitude of approximately 1,400 km, the highest Earth orbit ever flown by humans. In addition to attempting the first commercial spacewalk, the crew will carry out research to advance human health on Earth and during future long-duration spaceflights. Here is a detailed look at some of the key experiments:

Human Health Studies

Many of the experiments are focused on better understanding how spaceflight affects the human body. These include:

• Monitoring venous gas emboli (VGE): Using ultrasound to detect and quantify VGE to study human susceptibility to decompression sickness.
• Investigating space radiation effects: Gathering data on the radiation environment to analyze how space radiation impacts human biological systems. The high-altitude orbit will expose the crew to radiation levels equivalent to three months on the ISS in just a few passes.
• Biobank sample collection: Providing biological samples for a long-term biobank to enable multi-omics analyses.
• Studying Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS): Conducting ocular tests and gathering data related to SANS, a key risk to human health on long-duration spaceflights. The crew will wear smart contact lenses to monitor their intraocular pressure.
• Tracking physiological changes: Using ultrasound to measure eye structure changes in microgravity, monitoring organ blood flow patterns, and studying how spaceflight alters blood flow.
• Assessing crew health and performance: Administering questionnaires on the crew’s sleep, personality, health, and immune function to investigate physiological responses to spaceflight.

Technology Demonstrations

The mission will test cutting-edge technologies for future space exploration:

• Starlink laser communications: Polaris Dawn will be the first to test SpaceX’s Starlink laser-based communications system in space, providing valuable data for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
• Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit: SpaceX has developed an upgraded spacesuit capable of supporting a spacewalk in the vacuum of space. The crew will test this suit during the first commercial EVA at an altitude of ~700 km.

Telemedicine Advancements

In collaboration with NASA, the crew will evaluate new medical technologies and telemedicine capabilities:

• Smart medical device testing: A commercial device will be used to collect integrated health measurements like blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, temperature, ultrasound imaging, and video of the throat and larynx. It will test an experimental telemedicine feature to diagnose conditions in near-real-time with ground support.
• Assessing telemedicine feasibility: The telemedicine system will attempt to provide appropriate diagnoses based on crew inputs and available documentation, demonstrating its potential for future missions where crews need to be more self-reliant.

Additional Research

Numerous other experiments across different institutions will be conducted, such as:

• Behavioral and cognitive assessments from TRISH (Translational Research Institute for Space Health)
• Analyses of bone density, eye health, and respiration from TRISH
• Other research in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and the U.S. Air Force Academy

By carrying out this extensive research, the Polaris Dawn mission will set a new standard for commercial spaceflight and greatly expand our understanding of how to keep humans healthy during future long-duration space exploration. The scientific insights gained may lead to breakthroughs that will help ensure the success of upcoming missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.