The lift-off of the record SpaceX mission Polaris Dawn has been delayed for the third time in a row. This private space flight, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX will take four civilians into Earth’s orbit for the first-ever spacewalk. The mission was set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday. However, SpaceX has postponed it for the third consecutive time due to various unavoidable reasons.
First, there was a helium leak found in the launch pad umbilical, which delayed the launch. The umbilical is an integral part since it feeds helium into the booster, which the rocket then uses to force propellants out of its engines. Due to a technical glitch, the launch date shifted to August 28. Now, because of bad weather conditions, the mission will have to face another delay.
SpaceX announced the latest delay via a post on X. According to the announcement, the crew’s splashdown area off the coast of Florida is experiencing poor weather conditions. This situation requires further delays for the safe return of the mission. The company said, “Due to unfavorable weather forecasted in Dragon’s splashdown areas off the coast of Florida, we are now standing down from tonight and tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch opportunities of Polaris Dawn.”
The team will continue to monitor the weather closely for an appropriate launch window. According to SpaceX, forecasted weather conditions for splashdown made the launch criteria very constrained. Indeed, careful consideration is necessary, as it directly impacts the safety and success of the mission.
X: Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur who is commanding the mission, posted his thoughts on the situation: “With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support consumables, we must be sure of reentry weather before launching.” Isaacman underlined that because of the unique requirements of their mission, they must await the best conditions for a successful return after launch.
He further explained, “As of now, conditions are not favorable tonight or tomorrow, so we’ll assess day by day. As Elon Musk said, Polaris Dawn is a difficult mission with crucial objectives, so we’ll wait for the best opportunity to make sure it’s successful.” Isaacman’s comments reflect the complexity of the situation and emphasize the patience required to wait for the perfect launch conditions.
The delay of the mission underlines a few of the challenges in preparation for spaceflight. After the initial helium leak issue postponed the launch to August 28, the mission faced additional obstacles due to weather conditions. Isaacman will command the mission, joined by his crewmates including former F-16 pilot Scott Poteet and two SpaceX engineers, Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis.
The Polaris Dawn mission will last about five days. After launch, the spacecraft will attain an elliptical orbit reaching as high as 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) from Earth. That is an altitude significantly higher than any astronauts have seen since the Apollo 17 mission back in 1972. It would be on the third day of their journey that the crew intends to come out of the spacecraft at an altitude of about 435 miles-700 kilometers above Earth, where they will be outside in the vacuum of space for as long as 20 minutes.
One of the primary mission objectives involves testing new EVA suits designed by SpaceX during a two-and-a-half-year process. Astronauts will use these suits for spacewalks. Additionally, the mission includes venting the cabin to the vacuum of space before opening the hatch. The lack of an airlock on the spacecraft makes this a formidable challenge.
Polaris Dawn begins the Polaris Program’s series of three planned missions. Isaacman funds and organizes this ambitious human spaceflight project in collaboration with Elon Musk. Notably, Isaacman financed and commanded the Inspiration4 mission in 2021. That was the first all-civilian commercial flight to orbit operated by SpaceX.
Polaris Dawn has faced delays related to technical issues and weather. It plans to achieve two significant milestones of space travel. The record for spacewalk and testing of the new EVA suits. The team waits for the best conditions, focusing on ensuring the success of this historic mission.
ANI