SpaceX has postponed the launch of its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission due to a helium leak detected in ground equipment at the Kennedy Space Center. The four-person crew was scheduled to lift off aboard the Crew Dragon capsule early Tuesday morning, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration.
According to a post by SpaceX on X (formerly Twitter), the company is “taking a closer look at a ground-side helium leak.” The Falcon 9 booster and Crew Dragon capsule remain in good condition, and the crew is prepared for their multi-day mission to low-Earth orbit. The new launch time is set for 3:38 a.m. local time (0738 GMT) on Wednesday.
The highlight of the five-day mission is a planned 20-minute spacewalk at an altitude of approximately 700 kilometers above Earth, which would be the first private spacewalk in history. Until now, only government astronauts have performed spacewalks, primarily from the International Space Station for maintenance and scientific tasks.
The Polaris Dawn crew will test SpaceX’s new slimline spacesuits during the spacewalk, venturing outside the spacecraft in a procedure reminiscent of NASA’s early space programs. The first U.S. spacewalk took place in 1965 during the Gemini missions, involving capsule depressurization and tethered excursions.
The mission is led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, founder of electronic payment company Shift4, who financed the mission at an estimated cost exceeding $100 million. Joining him are mission pilot Scott Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and SpaceX senior engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Only two of the four crew members will conduct the spacewalk, while the others monitor from inside the capsule.
This mission represents a significant step forward for private spaceflight and could pave the way for future commercial space exploration endeavors. The delay allows SpaceX to ensure all systems are functioning optimally before embarking on this historic journey.
Reference(s):
Crewed SpaceX mission delayed after leak in ground equipment
cgtn.com
