Polaris Dawn mission: SpaceX crew returns to earth after first private spacewalk

After successfully completing SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman and the rest of the crew returned to Earth on Sunday. 

SpaceX’s capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida’s Dry Tortugas in the predawn darkness, carrying Isaacman, two SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot.

This was the first privately funded spacewalk mission. The mission was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

ALSO READ | Watch | Polaris Dawn mission: Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman becomes first civilian to walk in space

Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis pulled off a spacewalk while orbiting nearly 460 miles (740 kilometres) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope. The spacecraft hit a peak altitude of 875 miles (1,408 kilometres) following Tuesday’s liftoff.

Isaacman became the 264th person to perform a spacewalk since the former Soviet Union scored the first in 1965, and Gillis the 265th. 

Until now, all spacewalks were done by professional astronauts through government-funded missions. 

ALSO READ | Polaris Dawn mission: Blast off! SpaceX launches all-civilian crew for first privately-funded spacewalk

During Thursday’s commercial spacewalk, the Dragon capsule’s hatch was open barely a half-hour. Isaacman emerged only up to his waist to briefly test SpaceX’s brand-new spacesuit followed by Gillis, who was knee-high as she flexed her arms and legs for several minutes. 

“From here Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” said Isaacman after the spacewalk. 

This was Isaacman’s second chartered flight with SpaceX, with two more still remaining under the Polaris Dawn Mission. 

So far about 263 people have conducted a spacewalk representing 12 countries.