Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-11-2024 07:47 PM
From Polaris Program (via X):
Orbiting Earth on board Dragon, the Polaris Dawn crew talked with families of Folds of Honor, an organization providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled military service-members and first responders.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-12-2024 12:36 AM
The start of the EVA has been delayed:
The EVA is targeted to start at 5:58 a.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Friday, September 13.
A live webcast of this mission will begin at 4:55 a.m. ET, which you can watch here and on X at @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
Captain Apollo Member
Posts: 366 From: UK Registered: Jun 2004
posted 09-12-2024 09:30 AM
The SpaceX EVA suit has its O2 feed entering above the knee? A curious design feature. But I suppose it makes sense in the context.
dom Member
Posts: 1099 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 09-12-2024 03:11 PM
Slightly unfortunate that delays meant they both went outside as darkness descended on the earth’s surface - they didn’t seem to get the most spectacular views possible?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-12-2024 03:37 PM
Given that both Isaacman and Gillis stayed outside only long enough to go through their suit trial, never stopped to look at the (active) camera and wave hello and didn't bring a higher resolution camera out with them to capture the view of Earth, it seemed that the priority was on getting the EVA over as soon as the mission was ready to do so and not maximizing the experience for either astronaut.
Isaacman paused very briefly to reflect on the beauty of Earth when he first emerged, but I don't think we heard Gillis express any initial reaction. She just went immediately into conducting the trial.
I also question why they didn't let Poteet and Menon each ascend the Skywalker and poke their head out the vehicle for a quick peek after the suit evaluations were complete. Granted, it adds a bit more risk, but I wonder if it was at all considered during the development of the flight plan.
On edit: No sooner I posted did I see that the crew spoke with The Washington Post after the EVA. Relevant to this discussion:
Gillis said she also felt she could have stayed outside the spacecraft longer. "Stepping out and seeing the cusp of the world is absolutely incredible," she said. "It felt as if the time just slipped away. And by the time I got to the end of it, it was already time to come in. So I wish we had a maybe just a couple more minutes to see it and experience it and take it all in."
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3771 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 09-12-2024 08:45 PM
Since Apollo 17 has been mentioned a few times during this flight, it's a pity Isaacman didn't take the opportunity to pay tribute to an illustrious EVA predecessor by saying "Hot Diggity Dog!" on emergence.
One thing I noticed in particular was the way both astronauts held their hands: virtually at right-angles to their arms. I assume this is something to do with suit internal pressure, but it reminded me that Apollo Moonwalkers talked about how their hands and wrists became tired and sore constantly having to struggle against the pressure in their gloves.
issman1 Member
Posts: 1143 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 09-13-2024 03:10 AM
Before the historic EVAs by Isaacman and Gillis, wasn't the last time that a crew capsule depressurised for an EVA on the Skylab 2 mission in May 1973?
Gemini 11 was mentioned time and again by non-specialist mainstream news media experts and reporters.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 499 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 09-13-2024 05:04 AM
There's no additional EVAs for this mission?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-13-2024 08:36 AM
Yesterday's EVA was the only one planned for this mission. They will be returning to Earth this weekend.
quote:Originally posted by issman1: ...wasn't the last time that a crew capsule depressurised for an EVA on the Skylab 2 mission in May 1973?
Depends on what you define as a crew capsule. As mentioned in the article here on cS, in 2008, the Shenzhou 7 crew depressurized their orbital module to perform China's first spacewalk.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-13-2024 08:54 AM
Polaris Program video
Harmony of Resilience: Recorded in space and sent to Earth via SpaceX's Starlink constellation, Polaris Dawn crew member and violinist Sarah Gillis invites you to enjoy this music moment in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and El Sistema USA.
issman1 Member
Posts: 1143 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 09-13-2024 10:25 AM
I stand corrected but it wasn't (as some claimed) almost 60 years ago.
Liembo Member
Posts: 869 From: Bothell, WA Registered: Jan 2013
posted 09-13-2024 10:29 AM
Does their higher orbit mean higher energy for reentry? Still Mach 25?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-13-2024 11:16 AM
After reaching the record-high altitude, Dragon lowered back down to an orbit of 115 by 455 miles (184.9 by 732.2 km).
According to Jared Isaacman during a pre-launch briefing, they plan to lower Dragon's orbit again before beginning a normal deorbit much like the other Dragon crews have experienced.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-14-2024 03:59 PM
Per SpaceX:
Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will return to Earth on Sunday, September 15, splashing down at approximately 3:36 a.m. EDT off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida.
A live webcast of the return will begin about one hour prior to splashdown, which you can watch here and on X at @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-15-2024 01:47 AM
quote:Originally posted by Liembo: Does their higher orbit mean higher energy for reentry?
The crew seems to think they will generating some additional energy... Great Scott!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-15-2024 02:37 AM
Safe splashdown!
Dave_Johnson Member
Posts: 156 From: Registered: Feb 2014
posted 09-15-2024 03:11 PM
quote:Originally posted by Blackarrow: One thing I noticed in particular was the way both astronauts held their hands: virtually at right-angles to their arms.
That struck me as well. Additionally, the video gave me a distinct impression that it was AI generated (I'm not saying it was, just that's how unnatural it appeared to me).
Also, I presume the helmet cam is inside the helmet instead of external. The reflections from the inside surface of the visor were annoying and detracted from the view.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-15-2024 08:24 PM
From Don Pettit on the International Space Station (via X):
Polaris Dawn entry this morning.
I photographed it at 7:23 am GMT from the Cupola on ISS. In addition to the multi-colored entry trail over Florida, the basic cone shape of the Dragon capsule can be seen.
Nikon Z9, 200mm f2, 1/400th sec, ISO 25600.
damnyankee36 Member
Posts: 75 From: Alamogordo, NM USA Registered: Aug 2017
posted 09-16-2024 01:02 PM
quote:Originally posted by Dave_Johnson: The reflections from the inside surface of the visor were annoying and detracted from the view.
That's the first thing I noticed too. There's a reason why current NASA camera configurations are exterior mounted.
A total waste for the view obtained.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-27-2024 08:02 PM
SpaceX video
During its five day mission, Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew completed 75 orbits around Earth.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-28-2024 01:45 PM
SpaceX video
On Tuesday, September 10, SpaceX's Falcon 9 launched the Polaris Dawn mission to orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Polaris Dawn became the first crew to perform the first-ever spacewalk from Dragon, travel the farthest (1,408 km) within Earth's orbit since the completion of the Apollo program in 1972, and test Starlink laser-based communications aboard Dragon.
Additionally, the crew conducted approximately 36 experiments designed to better life on Earth and on future long-duration spaceflights, shared special moments with mission partners including reading Kisses from Space to patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, and inspired the world with a global music moment before safely returning to Earth on Sunday, September 15.
OLDIE Member
Posts: 374 From: Portsmouth, England Registered: Sep 2004
posted 11-10-2024 09:52 AM
Was Polaris Dawn under the control of SpaceX from launch to splashdown, or did NASA at Cape Canaveral and Houston have control at any time?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53474 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-10-2024 10:01 AM
As a private mission that did not fly to the International Space Station, NASA's Mission Control Center was not involved in the Polaris Dawn mission.
The only role(s) NASA had in the 5-day flight were as a sponsor of four science studies and I believe the lease of the TDRS network for space to ground communications.
OLDIE Member
Posts: 374 From: Portsmouth, England Registered: Sep 2004
posted 11-10-2024 11:20 AM
Thanks for the info Robert. Much appreciated.
posted 09-11-2024 07:47 PM
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