Historic Spaceflight Record Set by Female Astronauts on the Polaris Dawn Mission: The First Private Spacewalk and Highest-Ever Crewed Altitude Since Apollo

Historic Spaceflight Record Set by Female Astronauts on the Polaris Dawn Mission: The First Private Spacewalk and Highest-Ever Crewed Altitude Since Apollo
Image credit: Space.com

Next week, if all goes as planned, two female astronauts will make history by setting a new spaceflight record. The Polaris Dawn mission, which is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than August 27, aims to achieve several significant milestones, including the first-ever private spacewalk and the highest altitude above Earth for a crewed spacecraft since the Apollo era. The mission is funded and commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who previously led the private Inspiration4 orbital mission in 2021.

Women Astronauts to Surpass Previous Altitude Records

The Polaris Dawn crew includes SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, who will surpass the previous record for the highest altitude reached by a female astronaut. The current record is held by NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan, who flew 386 miles (621 km) above Earth during the STS-31 mission in the space shuttle program. Gillis and Menon will aim to reach approximately 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) above Earth, a significant achievement in human spaceflight.

Apollo Missions and Historic Altitude Records

The Polaris Dawn mission aims to exceed the altitude record set by NASA astronauts Dick Gordon and Pete Conrad during the Gemini 11 mission in September 1966, who reached 850 miles (1,368 km) above Earth. The historic Apollo program, which ran from 1968 to 1972, involved only male astronauts. The farthest-reaching Apollo mission was Apollo 13, which reached a distance of 248,655 miles (400,171 km) from Earth in April 1970, despite its planned lunar landing being thwarted by an explosion.

Background of the STS-31 Mission and the Hubble Space Telescope

The STS-31 mission, which saw Kathryn Sullivan reach her record altitude, was tasked with deploying the Hubble Space Telescope, a landmark observatory that continues to operate today. The mission took place in the space shuttle program, just seven years after NASA sent its first woman astronaut, Sally Ride, into space in June 1983. The Hubble servicing missions that followed, flying between 1993 and 2009, reached lower altitudes than STS-31 but were crucial for the telescope's maintenance.

Private Spaceflight Ventures and Future Prospects

The Polaris Dawn mission is not only significant for its altitude and private spacewalk but also for the role it plays in the expanding landscape of private space exploration. Jared Isaacman’s continued investment in spaceflight endeavors, following his Inspiration4 mission, highlights the growing collaboration between private industry and space exploration. The inclusion of women astronauts in these record-breaking missions further underscores the progress being made toward more inclusive space exploration.

This upcoming mission promises to be a milestone in space exploration, setting new records and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in both private and public space ventures.