Elon Musk Company Issues Polaris Dawn Update After NASA’s Announcement on Sunita Williams’ Return

If all proceeds as planned, SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission is set to launch at 3:38 am EDT on Tuesday, August 27. This groundbreaking mission aims to achieve the first-ever commercial spacewalk, with SpaceX racing towards a historic milestone. In a pivotal development, NASA has also opted to rely on SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission to rescue astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry E. “Butch” Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for over two months.

On Sunday, August 25, SpaceX confirmed the successful completion of a full rehearsal of launch day activities for the Polaris Dawn mission. The company announced the update on X (formerly Twitter), marking a significant step towards the mission’s liftoff.

Details of the Polaris Dawn Mission

The Polaris Dawn mission is poised to be a landmark event in commercial space exploration. Scheduled to launch on Tuesday, the mission will see four astronauts spend five days in orbit aboard a Crew Dragon capsule. Notably, two of these astronauts will conduct the first-ever private spacewalk, a venture that will expose them to the challenges of space radiation.

The mission will be led by US billionaire and experienced aviator Jared Isaacman, with retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Scott “Kid Poteet” serving as the pilot. The crew also includes SpaceX's Sarah Gills and Anna Menon. Despite the excitement, the mission carries inherent risks, including the exposure to a radiation belt during the spacewalk.

NASA’s Shift to SpaceX for Crew Rescue

In a significant development, NASA has chosen to utilize SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth. This decision follows a formal review of the Boeing Starliner, which was initially considered for the return mission. Despite Boeing’s early confidence, NASA decided against using the Starliner due to ongoing issues, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, “NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February, and that Starliner will return uncrewed.” The return of Williams and Wilmore, who have been in space since June 5, 2024, was delayed due to these technical challenges. They will now spend approximately eight months in orbit before returning to Earth.

Crew-9 Mission Adjustments

The Crew-9 mission, initially scheduled for August 18, has been postponed to September 24. The mission has been reconfigured to accommodate Williams and Wilmore, who will now join the Crew-9 team as part of a reshuffled plan. The spacecraft will carry only two additional astronauts instead of the original four.

NASA’s Commercial Crew program tweeted: “Wilmore and Williams will continue their work as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew through February 2025 and will return aboard a Dragon spacecraft with two other Crew-9 members.”