On last Saturday (4), SpaceX unveiled the new space suits intended for the first-ever private spacewalk, with plans to occur later this year. These suits will be worn by the four crew members of the Polaris Dawn mission, who will travel aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Developed based on the current pressurized suits worn by astronauts traveling in the spacecraft, the new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit was designed to ensure mobility in various circumstances. It is made with fabrics that provide proper thermal management and incorporates materials from the Falcon 9 rocket and the space capsule.
The equipment includes a helmet with internal lining that serves as a visor for protection against solar radiation, and it is also equipped with state-of-the-art cameras. It also features the Heads-Up Display system, allowing the astronaut to easily view information about the suit's status.
Unlike the suits worn by astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX's spacewalk suit does not have a backpack. All life support systems, such as power, air, and cooling, will be provided through an umbilical cord connected to the spacecraft.
The Polaris Dawn mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, will also include commercial astronauts Scott Poteet, Anna Menon, and Sarah Gillis. The group will spend five days in orbit aboard the Crew Dragon, conducting experiments on the effects of spaceflight and radiation on health, as well as testing the spacecraft's communication system via Starlink.
The highlight of the trip will be the long-awaited spacewalk, which will take place at approximately 700 km above Earth and will last several hours. The goal is to test various aspects of SpaceX's new space suit, developed with a focus on the company's future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Initially scheduled for 2022 and postponed several times since then, the Polaris Dawn mission is now set to launch next summer in the United States. If the schedule is maintained by Elon Musk's company, the Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit between June and September this year.
