There once was a time when space was the exclusive domain of highly trained astronauts and governments with astronomical budgets. That time is over. With the launch of Polaris Dawn, SpaceX Not only did it send four “mere mortals” into orbit, but it also opened the doors to a new era (I would say a new dawn, considering the name of the mission) for commercial space exploration.
A Tuesday to Remember
While most Americans were probably struggling with their alarm clocks, at 5:23 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) a Falcon 9 lit up the Florida sky. On board were four people who until recently could have been our neighbors. Forget astronauts with resumes as long as Earth's orbit. The Polaris Dawn crew is an eclectic mix that seems to have come out of a space sitcom (but they have the names of a 90s band). THEY are:
- Jared isaacman: the mission commander. Think of him as the “boss” who decides to take everyone on a space trip.
- Scott Poteet: a former Air Force lieutenant colonel. Probably the one who will say, “I’ve seen it all,” only to realize that colors really are different in space.
- Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon: SpaceX engineer. Imagine having to solve an IT problem, but 400 km above Earth.
Ok, maybe they are not exactly naive. But it is also true that Polaris Dawn is not a simple day trip. Because the objectives of the mission are different, and all of them of a certain importance for the future. What are they?
Here's what's on the agenda:
- The first commercial spacewalk: Why just stare out into space from a window when you can float like in Gravity? (I hope not exactly like in the movie, of course);
- Testing new space suits: Because even in space fashion matters. No, I'm kidding: it's a question of "habitability" and functions: these are suits that could one day be worn on the Moon.
- Laser communications with Starlink: Because even astronauts want good Wi-Fi for posting on social media.
- Human Health Research in Space: Because knowledge of an environment like space is never enough.
- New altitude record: Polaris Dawn
aim to reach an altitude of approximately 1.400 km.To give you an idea, it's as if they were going to break the world record in high jump, but instead of jumping a few more inches, they added a couple hundred kilometers. The last time someone went that high, it was still disco music.
Most of all, however, what makes Polaris Dawn a truly epochal mission is that it is opening the doors of space to the commercial sector. It is as if we are moving from the era of transatlantic travel to the embryonic era of low-cost airlines, but on a cosmic scale.
The Risks: Polaris Dawn Isn't Exactly a Walk in the Park
Despite the enthusiasm and my unusually comical (read: cringe) streak in this article, let's not forget that we are talking about sending humans into an environment extremely hostile. If Polaris Dawn is successful, it could mark the beginning of a new era in which space becomes accessible not just to governments and billionaires, but potentially to a much wider audience. It's a sign that the rules of the game are changing.
Polaris Dawn represents the beginning of a future where space is no longer the exclusive domain of a select few, but a new frontier open to commercial exploration and, potentially, to everyone. Maybe one day it will be you, or your children, to take this extraordinary “trip”. I pass, I suffer from vertigo. I will follow you from here doing something more modest. How about a ride on the Ferris wheel?
