"Polaris Dawn" mission: follow the planned field mission live
The climax of the "Polaris Dawn" mission is imminent. The planned external mission, the exit of two astronauts, can be followed live.
This is what the planned exit from the Dragon capsule will look like.
(Image: Polaris Dawn / SpaceX)
The "Polaris Dawn" mission is heading towards its climax on Thursday, September 12. Two of the four astronauts are scheduled to disembark at 5:58 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (11:58 a.m. CEST). The spacewalk was actually scheduled to take place at 8:23 am. According to current information, astronaut Sarah Gillis and the commander and financier of the mission, US billionaire Jared Isaacman, are scheduled to make the postponed exit at an altitude of around 700 km. A possible further replacement date is scheduled for Friday, 8:23 am.
The exit of the two astronauts is not without danger. The Dragon capsule from SpaceX is missing an airlock. This means that the entire interior of the capsule will be exposed to the vacuum of space when the astronauts exit. Accordingly, the crew members remaining in the spacecraft also wear their complete spacesuits, newly developed by SpaceX, in order to be supplied with breathing air, among other things.
The spacesuits are also intended to protect against cosmic radiation that may enter through the open hatch. Beforehand, however, it is ensured that the capsule is rotated so that the hatch door acts as a protective shield. However, the radiation should be low at the target altitude of 700 km, so that there is only a low risk for the astronauts and the electronics on board anyway.
Exit with an "anklet"
The astronauts are now making preparations for their exit. They undergo a pre-breathe process in which nitrogen is slowly removed from the blood. This ensures that no bubbles form in the tissue and bloodstream when the pressure changes.
During the mission, the astronauts on the external mission are connected to the Dragon capsule with a tube that supplies the astronauts with breathing air. However, the two astronauts will not float freely in space after their exit. They are secured to an exit ladder with foot straps.
The exit of the two astronauts will be broadcast live via a SpaceX website.
The five-day "Polaris Dawn" mission was launched into space on Tuesday after several delays, mainly due to weather conditions. The astronauts ascended to an altitude of around 1400 km. This is the highest altitude reached by a manned spacecraft since the Apollo moon missions in the 1970s.
(olb)