First Ever Spacewalk by an Amateur Astronaut

September 18, 2024

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The Polaris Dawn mission by SpaceX has made history as one of its crew members completed the first-ever spacewalk by an amateur astronaut.

Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who funded and led the mission, stepped out of the spacecraft to perform the spacewalk, followed by engineer and mission specialist Sarah Gillis, who was once a violinist.

The crew aimed to test SpaceX’s new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuits, which were specially designed by a costume designer known for working on superhero movies. This marks the first commercial and privately-funded space mission to complete a spacewalk, as SpaceX is a business, not a government agency like NASA.

The mission still has two days left of its five-day journey, during which the spacecraft will remain 700 km above Earth before returning home. Even though only two crew members actually stepped outside, all four had to wear the EVA suits because the spacecraft’s hatch stayed open, exposing everyone to the vacuum of space.

Experts have praised the crew’s performance, with science correspondent Pallab Ghosh noting that they “carried out their mission like pros.” Dr. Simeon Barber of the Open University commented that SpaceX’s success makes it “a real force to be reckoned with.”

After the spacewalk, SpaceX confirmed that everything went as planned, and the crew was safe and sound.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

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Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

After a three-day camp in the Tararua Range, Ben wrote in his diary that the first day was the hardest because of the long walk uphill and the heavy packs. By the second day, his group worked better together when setting up tents and cooking meals. He said the night walk was memorable because the bush sounded different in the dark. On the final morning, everyone was tired but proud. Ben concluded that the camp was challenging, yet it helped the class become more confident and cooperative.

Which is the best summary of Ben’s diary entry?

The camp was difficult at first, but it helped Ben’s class work together and gain confidence. Ben thought the night walk was the best part because the bush sounded different in the dark. Ben’s group struggled with heavy packs, enjoyed a night walk, and ate meals together at camp. Three days in the Tararua Range left everyone tired, but the tents were set up successfully.