First Private Spacewalk: Pushing the Boundaries of Commercial Spaceflight

The first private spacewalk is taking place Thursday, featuring a crew from SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, this mission aims to test new spacesuits and examine the impact of deep-space travel on the human body. It's the latest endeavor in commercial spaceflight advancements.

In a historic move, a group of astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule will embark on the first private spacewalk this Thursday. The mission, delayed by a few hours, aims to test a new line of spacesuits in what is being described as the company's riskiest venture to date.

The mission, Polaris Dawn, is funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who previously financed the Inspiration4 flight in 2021. Isaacman, along with retired military fighter pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, have been orbiting Earth since their launch early Tuesday from Florida.

The spacewalk will see Isaacman and Gillis exit the capsule, which will be depressurized and rely entirely on their custom-made spacesuits for life support. This mission also features a series of scientific studies on human biology in deep space, contributing to the broader exploration efforts in commercial spaceflight.

(With inputs from agencies.)