In an unprecedented feat, SpaceX is preparing for its momentous Polaris Dawn mission, which will mark the first-ever private astronaut spacewalk. The mission, funded by billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, will see four astronauts soar into orbit aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule for a five-day journey through the Van Allen radiation belts.

Scheduled for Tuesday, August 27th, at 3:38 AM ET, with backup launch times of 5:23 AM ET and 7:09 AM ET, the Crew Dragon capsule will be launched into orbit using SpaceX's powerful Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The crew of Polaris Dawn consists of Jared Isaacman, retired US Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. While all four crew members will embark on this groundbreaking mission, only Isaacman and Gillis will undertake the historic spacewalk, which will take place approximately 430 miles above Earth.

Notably, the astronauts will reach an astonishing maximum altitude of around 870 miles, surpassing the boundaries of previous missions like the Apollo moon landings over 50 years ago. As part of their journey, the crew will brave the Van Allen belts, regions of intense radiation composed of high-energy particles originating from the Sun and cosmic rays interacting with the Earth's atmosphere.

The spacewalk is not only a significant milestone in space exploration, but it also serves as an opportunity for testing and advancing spacesuit technology. The astronauts will don state-of-the-art extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits during the spacewalk to evaluate their enhanced mobility capabilities. Equipped with 3D-printed helmets featuring heads-up displays and visors designed to minimize glare, these advanced suits represent a significant leap forward in astronaut safety and performance.

Given that the Crew Dragon capsule does not possess an airlock, all four astronauts must wear the upgraded spacesuits during the spacewalk, as they will be exposed to the vacuum of space. Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis will specifically conduct tests with the new spacesuits, furthering our understanding of their capabilities and ensuring the safety of future extravehicular activities.

Moreover, the Polaris Dawn mission holds immense scientific value. The crew will contribute to research on the effects of space radiation on the human body as they traverse the Van Allen belts. They will also test Starlink's satellite internet technology for communication with Earth and carry out investigations on decompression sickness and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome.

A livestream of the Polaris Dawn mission, including the groundbreaking spacewalk, will be available on SpaceX's website and its X page. Coverage will begin at approximately 12:05 AM ET, providing viewers with a front-row seat to witness this extraordinary journey.

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission represents a giant leap forward in private space exploration. As the crew embarks on their historic spacewalk and ventures through the Van Allen radiation belts, the boundaries of human space travel will be pushed to new heights, opening doors to remarkable scientific discoveries and technological advancements.