The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, led by Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and should by the end of its first day attain a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers).

That is nearly three times farther from Earth than the International Space Station, as their Crew Dragon spaceship navigates through portions of hazardous, high-radiation Van Allen belt during its roughly five-day trek.

And radiation isn't the only challenge the four-member team faces.

"Dragon will travel repeatedly through the orbital altitudes of over 10 thousand satellites and bits of space debris," SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk wrote on X. "No room for error in our calculations."

The highlight of the voyage is slated for as early as Thursday: the first ever spacewalk by civilians, outfitted in sleek, newly developed SpaceX extravehicular activity (EVA) suits with heads-up displays, helmet cameras and advanced joint mobility systems.

SpaceX has scheduled the EVA for 0623 GMT on Thursday, with a backup window on Friday at the same time.

Since the Crew Dragon capsule lacks an airlock, the entire crew will be exposed to the vacuum of space for around two hours, as two crewmates venture out, in turn, for 15 to 20 minutes each.

- High radiation zone -

Earlier Tuesday, the capsule blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket after weather delays pushed back the launch several times.

Applause broke out across the mission control center as it separated successfully from the main engine and the first glimpses of Earth came into view.

As they prepare for their spacewalk, the crew have been tasked with gathering data on decompression sickness and the health effects of the Van Allen radiation belt, a region teeming with high-energy charged particles.

While venturing deep into space, the crew won't exceed the distances reached during the Apollo missions to the Moon from 1968 to 1972.

The farthest, 248,655 miles, was set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970 as they looped around the Moon during an emergency return to Earth following an onboard explosion.

- Two years' preparation -

Isaacman has remained tight-lipped on his total investment in the project, though reports suggest he paid around $200 million for the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission in September 2021, the first all-civilian orbital mission.

Rounding out the team are mission pilot Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel; mission specialist Sarah Gillis, and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon -- both SpaceX engineers, who have now traveled further from Earth than any women before them.

The quartet underwent more than two years of training in preparation for the landmark mission, logging hundreds of hours on simulators as well as skydiving, centrifuge training, scuba diving, and summiting an Ecuadoran volcano.

Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions under the Polaris program, a collaboration between Isaacman and SpaceX.

The final mission is slated to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship prototype -- the rocket it envisions as the key to future Mars colonization.

In addition to their spacewalk, the crew will test laser-based satellite communications between the spacecraft and Starlink's satellite constellation, aiming to enhance space communication speeds.

They'll also carry out 36 scientific experiments, including tests on contact lenses with embedded microelectronics to monitor changes in eye pressure and shape -- adding to the growing body of space research aimed at advancing human exploration beyond Earth.

Who is on SpaceX's historic private spacewalk mission?
Washington (AFP) Sept 10, 2024 - Four US civilians are set to attempt the first-ever private spacewalk on Thursday -- a risky endeavor usually reserved for trained astronauts from government agencies.

The ambitious mission, dubbed Polaris Dawn, is being carried out on a SpaceX capsule that launched early Tuesday from Florida.

Who are the select few to pioneer this new chapter of space exploration?

- Jared Isaacman, billionaire -

The driving force behind the mission is Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who serves as mission commander.

The 41-year-old American from Pennsylvania is the CEO of the digital finance company Shift4 Payments, which he founded in his family's basement when he was only 16.

Isaacman is a seasoned pilot who is qualified to fly military aircraft and holds several world records.

He had previously gone into space in 2021 as part of another SpaceX mission he chartered, Inspiration4, which was the first orbital spacecraft to feature no professional astronauts.

His lifelong passion for space exploration aligns with SpaceX's stated goal of making humankind a "multi-planet species."

"Throughout Earth's history, there have been periods when humans, had we existed, would have been wiped out," Isaacman wrote on X in August. "If there's a technical path to ensuring humanity's survival...it seems irresponsible not to pursue it."

Isaacman is married with two daughters.

- SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon -

For the first time, SpaceX has sent two of its own employees into space.

Sarah Gillis, 30, oversees astronaut training for SpaceX, and had trained Isaacman for his Inspiration4 mission.

Her husband also works for Elon Musk's company, having helped develop the propulsion system for the spacecraft used in Polaris Dawn.

Anna Menon, 38, worked for NASA before joining SpaceX.

She wrote a children's book about space titled "Kisses from Space" that she will read an excerpt from during the mission. Proceeds from the book go to support a children's hospital.

Her husband Anil Menon was selected to be an astronaut by NASA in 2021, but unlike his spouse, he has yet to go to space.

- Pilot Scott Poteet -

The last Polaris Dawn participant is Scott Poteet, a US Air Force veteran who enjoys completing triathlons in his spare time.

Poteet flew combat aircraft for 20 years, including as part of the esteemed Thunderbirds air aerobatic patrol.

He serves as the mission's pilot, given his professional experience.

Poteet is also a close friend of Isaacman's, having worked for several of the billionaire's companies.

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