The Polaris Dawn mission is facing a slight delay before its launch. SpaceX, which is spearheading the launch, has postponed the mission by at least 24 hours, as reported by Digital Trends on Tuesday. Initially scheduled to depart at 3:38 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the new target launch time is now set for the same hour on Wednesday. The delay is attributed to a helium leak detected on the ground.
In a statement on X, SpaceX explained, “Teams are examining a ground-side helium leak on the Quick Disconnect umbilical. Both the Falcon rocket and Dragon spacecraft are in good condition, and the crew is prepared for their multi-day mission to low-Earth orbit. The next available launch window is no earlier than Wednesday, August 28.”
The Polaris Dawn mission has been in development for some time, with the program first announced in February 2022. Should the mission proceed as planned, it will mark a historic milestone: the four-member crew, including billionaire Jared Isaacman, will become the first non-professional astronauts to conduct a commercial spacewalk. Additionally, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule will venture farther into space than ever before.
The mission had originally been slated for late July but faced delays due to the need for specialized spacesuits to ensure crew safety. These suits, which were introduced earlier this year, may also be used for future lunar missions, according to Digital Trends.
While SpaceX manages the operational aspects of the Polaris Dawn mission, funding and overall leadership come from Isaacman, who has a longstanding interest in space exploration. Following Polaris Dawn, Isaacman has plans for two additional Polaris missions, culminating in a crewed flight aboard SpaceX’s Starship rocket. In an interview with Robb Report in July 2022, Isaacman outlined his ambitious goals.
“This vehicle is larger and more powerful than the Saturn V rocket that took humans to the moon half a century ago,” Isaacman stated. “We will conduct test flights, and if successful, Starship will be the spacecraft to return humans to the moon and eventually send the first crew to Mars. Starship could one day become the Boeing 737 of human spaceflight.”
Before these future missions can unfold, the success of Polaris Dawn is crucial. We may find out tomorrow whether the mission will proceed as planned.
