# The Inaugural Commercial Spacewalk: A New Era in Space Exploration
This week signifies a pivotal occasion in the annals of space exploration, as the inaugural commercial spacewalk is poised to occur. This event is part of the **Polaris Dawn mission**, an innovative five-day commercial venture aimed at expanding the horizons of private space travel. Scheduled for **Thursday, September 12**, the third day of the undertaking, the spacewalk will represent an essential advancement for the future of commercial space activities.
## What is the Polaris Dawn Mission?
The Polaris Dawn mission is a privately funded spaceflight endeavor spearheaded by **SpaceX** and backed by billionaire entrepreneur **Jared Isaacman**, who also directed the **Inspiration4** mission in 2021. The mission aspires to showcase the potentials of commercial space travel, including the pioneering commercial spacewalk, alongside conducting scientific inquiries and evaluating new technologies that may influence future space exploration.
This mission forms part of the wider **Polaris Program**, aimed at enhancing human spaceflight through a sequence of more ambitious missions. The ultimate ambition is to carve a path for future exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond, leveraging private-sector innovation and financing.
## The Inaugural Commercial Spacewalk: What to Anticipate
The spacewalk, referred to as **Extravehicular Activity (EVA)**, will be the first of its nature executed by a commercial team instead of government astronauts. The crew aboard the **Crew Dragon capsule** will exit the spacecraft to perform this activity, traditionally reserved for government space organizations like NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos.
During the EVA, the team will utilize **SpaceX’s innovative EVA suits**, crafted specifically for this mission. These suits were developed in a remarkably short time of just two and a half years, in stark contrast to NASA’s prolonged timeline for updating older spacesuits. The new suits are built to provide improved mobility, protection, and functionality, including a **state-of-the-art heads-up display** that supplies real-time data to the astronauts.
## Experimenting with New Spacewalk Techniques
One of the primary goals of the Polaris Dawn mission is to evaluate new techniques for conducting spacewalks. The crew will explore various methods to reduce risks associated with operating in the vacuum of space. A significant challenge lies in managing **pressure differentials** between the spacecraft and the vacuum outside.
To tackle this challenge, the crew intends to lower the pressure inside the Crew Dragon capsule before putting on their spacesuits. Once the capsule reaches the same pressure as the suits, the astronauts will exit the spacecraft. This approach is designed to minimize the creation of **unwanted gas bubbles** in the astronauts’ bodies, a condition known as **decompression sickness** or “the bends,” which can arise when transitioning between varying pressure environments.
## The Associated Risks
While the mission advances commercial space travel, it is not without its inherent risks. A major challenge the crew will encounter is restoring the pressure inside the capsule following the completion of the spacewalk. If the pressure cannot be safely reinstated, the journey back to Earth could become perilously unsafe.
Furthermore, some SpaceX advisors have voiced apprehensions regarding the mission, indicating that this marks the first instance of such an undertaking by a commercial crew. Space exploration is inherently fraught with risks, and the stakes are considerable for the Polaris Dawn mission. Any failure could bring serious repercussions, not just for the crew but also for the trajectory of commercial space efforts.
Nevertheless, embracing calculated risks is intrinsic to furthering human spaceflight. Each mission yields fresh insights and lessons applicable to future projects. The success of this mission could unlock the potential for more frequent and advanced commercial spacewalks, potentially leading to private sector engagement in the construction and upkeep of space stations, lunar installations, and even Martian habitats.
## The Prospects for Commercial Space Exploration
The Polaris Dawn mission exemplifies the remarkable progress made in commercial space travel within a relatively brief timeframe. Once the exclusive realm of government bodies, space exploration is now becoming increasingly open to private enterprises and individuals. This transition holds the potential to expedite innovation, decrease costs, and enhance accessibility to space for a wider audience.
Should the mission proceed successfully, it will establish a new benchmark for how commercial spacewalks are executed and create new avenues for private sector participation in space exploration. Insights gained from this mission may guide future initiatives aimed at developing commercial space stations, lunar bases, and even missions targeting Mars.
## Conclusion
The first commercial spacewalk, scheduled during the Polaris Dawn mission, signifies a daring advancement in the progression of space exploration. While the mission bears significant risks, it also presents substantial potential rewards. If successful, it will validate the feasibility of commercial spacewalks and lay the groundwork for forthcoming private-sector space initiatives.
As we gaze into the future, the Polaris Dawn mission serves
