SpaceX Polaris Dawn private spacewalk mission: Live updates

Polaris Dawn launch on hold pending weather

SpaceX says it is currently in a holding pattern due to weather for the launch of the private Polaris Dawn mission. 

"Latest forecasts continue to show unfavorable weather conditions in the areas along Florida’s coast where Dragon would splash down upon returning from space," SpaceX wrote on X Thursday night (Aug. 29). "Once teams identify the next best opportunity for launch and return of the Polaris Dawn mission, we’ll provide an update. Falcon 9 and Dragon remain healthy and vertical on the pad at 39A."

Meanwhile, the FAA is investigating the landing failure of a different Falcon 9 rocket launch launched a set of Starlink satellites into orbit. That booster, which originally launched Polaris Dawn commander Jared Isaacman and a crew of 3 others to space in 2021's Inspiration4 mission, caught fire and toppled over while landing on a drone ship at sea on Aug. 28. 

Polaris Dawn crew takes delays in stride

The four astronauts of SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission financed by American billionaire Jared Isaacman are taking delays to their launch well as they await launch. The mission was initially slated to launch Aug. 26, but was delayed two days to Aug. 28 due to technical issues, and then postponed to no earlier than Friday, Aug. 30, due to splashdown weather concerns for the end of the mission. 

"Our launch criteria are heavily constrained by forecasted splashdown weather conditions. With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support consumables, we must be absolutely sure of reentry weather before launching. As of now, conditions are not favorable tonight or tomorrow, so we'll assess day by day," Isaacman wrote on X late Tuesday (Aug. 27).  "Sometimes, the hardest journeys require the most patience, and we’re ready to wait for the right moment. We know many have traveled to see the launch, and we’re grateful for your support."

"Great summary of where we’re at, weather is going to be a challenge given launch and return requirements," Polaris Dawn mission specialist Sarah Gillis added. "Scrubbing for the next few launch opportunities, but ready to go once a weather window opens!"

"It can be challenging at times when you’re building up to game day, but we proceed with cautious paranoia to ensure we mitigate risk," Polaris Dawn pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet added. "In the big scheme of things, mission success will be that much sweeter for the entire Polaris Program [and] SpaceX team."

Even SpaceX CEO Elon Musk weighed in, given the audacious goals of Polaris Dawn to attempt the world's first private spacewalk and the highest human spaceflight since NASA's Apollo missions. 

"An incredible amount of work has gone into this historic mission by an amazing team," Musk wrote on Aug. 26 after the earlier delays. "We are triple-checking everything to make sure there is nothing more we can do to improve crew safety."

Polaris launch delayed again due to weather at Dargon recovery zone

Polaris Dawn will have to wait a few more days at least before launching on the program's pioneering mission. Liftoff had been set for early Wednesday morning, Aug. 28, at 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT), but late in the evening Tuesday, SpaceX posted on X, formerly Twitter, that weather conditions at Dragon's recovery zones were unfavorable enough to delay the mission. 

"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. Teams will continue to monitor weather for favorable launch and return conditions," the post reads.

In a repost, Polaris Dawn commander Jared Isaacman added some clarification, and stressed safety in moving forward with their mssion, "With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support consumables, we must be absolutely sure of reentry weather before launching. As of now, conditions are not favorable tonight or tomorrow, so we’ll assess day by day."

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in launch position

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is once again upright and in launch position atop Pad 39A for the planned Aug. 28 launch of the private Polaris Dawn spacewalk mission. Liftoff is on track for for 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT) after two days of delay this week. 

"Falcon 9 and Dragon are vertical on pad 39A ahead of flight. Weather is 85% favorable for liftoff and teams are keeping an eye on recovery weather," SpaceX wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

SpaceX's livestream on X will begin at about 12 a.m. EDT (0400 GMT) and be simulcast on Space.com.

Polaris Dawn launch delayed to Aug. 28

The launch of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn astronaut mission has been delayed by at least 24 hours, to no earlier than 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT) on Wednesday (Aug. 28). SpaceX wants more time to study a helium leak associated with a "quick disconnect umbilical," an interface connecting the mission's Falcon 9 rocket to the launch tower. 

Read more in our delay story. 

SpaceX 'GO' for Polaris Dawn launch

SpaceX has given the "GO" for its private Polaris Dawn astronaut launch and spacewalk mission for Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT). 

Over the weekend, SpaceX rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Resilience out to Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four-person Polaris Dawn crew performed full launch day dress rehearsal, with SpaceX capping the weekend with a successful static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket's nine first-stage engines, a typical prelaunch test for the company. 

"The Polaris Program mission readiness review just finished and we are currently go for launch in just over 24 hours," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Crew safety is absolutely paramount and this mission carries more risk than usual, as it will be the furthest humans have traveled from Earth since Apollo and the first commercial spacewalk! If any concerns arise, the launch will be postponed until those concerns are addressed."

SpaceX's new glimpse at Polaris Dawn spacewalk

SpaceX has released a new computer animation of what the Polaris Dawn private spacwalk will look like next week when Jared Isaacman opens the Dragon capsule hatch. 

The rendering shows what appears to be handrails extending out from the Dragon hatch, which Isaacman can use to help stand up with most of his body outside of the spacecraft. The depiction shows the Dragon crewmember with their feet still inside the capsule, likely strapped into a stabilization or mobility aid, which SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn crew have worked to develop over the last two years. You can see the rendering here:

"The rendering gives a solid sense of what it’ll be like," Isaacman wrote on X (formerly Twitter. "Dragon’s forward hatch should generally point towards Earth. The Dracos near the forward bulkhead will be disabled & as we cycle crew members between EV1/EV2, we’ll have opportunities to correct attitude or null rotation."

SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn launch to Aug. 27

SpaceX has delayed the launch of the private Polaris Dawn spaceflight by at least 24 hours to allow more time for final preflight checks. The launch of Polaris Dawn, a private mission backed by American billionaire Jared Isaacman, is now scheduled to launch no earlier than Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT). 

"Targeting Tuesday, August 27 for launch of Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program's three human spaceflight missions designed to advance the future of spaceflight," SpaceX wrote in an update on X (formerly Twitter) late Aug. 21. "The new date allows additional time for teams to complete preflight checkouts ahead of next week’s launch."

New launch date: Aug. 27

The Polaris Dawn mission is now scheduled to launch on Aug. 27, a day later than originally planned. 

"The new date allows additional time for teams to complete preflight checkouts ahead of next week’s launch," SpaceX wrote in a post on X. 

"We will happily take an extra day to ensure readiness," mission commander Jared Isaacman wrote in a post on X.

Polaris Dawn raises millions for St. Jude

As the Polaris Dawn crew prepares for their private launch to space on Aug. 26 with SpaceX, the mission's fundraising arm is in full swing for its chosen nonprofit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which studies and treats cancer in children. 

Polaris Dawn commander Jared Isaacman said his first spaceflight, 2021's Inspiration4, "raised over $250 million for them. We've raised millions since with Polaris Dawn, and will continue to do so throughout the duration of the Polaris program."

In conjunction with the efforts of Isaacman and the Polaris Dawn crew, the mission has found partners to help raise more funds for St. Jude. 

Doritos has crafted a new Zero Gravity Cool Ranch chip designed for safe snacking in weightlessness and offering the chips and space-flown tins a s prizes as part of its fundraising project, which you can find at https://doritos.experience.stjude.org/. So far, the project has raised more than $538,000 and is nearing its goal of $585,000.

Meanwhile, luxury watch maker IWC Schaffhausen has donated a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition "Polaris Dawn" watch, which will be worn on the flight and be auctioned off to benefit St. Jude after the flight. 

Kisses from Space by Anna Menon, Keri Vesak, $19.99 now $15.99 at Amazon.

SpaceX lead operations engineer Anna Menon's Kisses From Space, published by Random House, will fly to space with Menon on the Polaris Dawn mission. Proceeds from the book will help support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

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Mission specialist Anna Menon also wrote a children's book, called "Kisses from Space," that she'll read during the flight, with proceeds from the book's sale going to St. Jude. 

Polaris Dawn crew 1 week from launch

The four private astronauts of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission are a week away from launch after two years of training for a mission that, they hope, will include the world's first private spacewalk. 

American billionaire Jared Isaacman, who previously backed his private Inspiration4 spaceflight with SpaceX, will command the Polaris Dawn mission, the first of three new spaceflights he's purchased from SpaceX. 

Isaacman, pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both Lead Space Operations Engineers at SpaceX, arrived at their launch site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Aug. 19. Liftoff is set for Aug. 26 at 3:38 a.m. EDT (0738 GMT). 

The mission, announced in 2022, will test new spacesuits for SpaceX during a planned 2-hour spacewalk during the five-day mission. On Aug. 19, the crew spoke with reporters about their upcoming mission. 

Read all about it in our wrap story here from Space.com's Josh Dinner.

Doritos heads to space with Polaris Dawn

The Polaris Dawn will have some brand new snacks in space when they launch on SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience on Aug. 26. 

Doritos is flying a brand-new type of safe-for-space Zero Gravity Cool Ranch Doritos chips during the private spaceflight. The limited-edition flavor is available for sale online and contains an oil-based coating to keep Doritos' classic powdered topping from floating away in weightlessness. 

"The limitless possibilities of space inspired us to push the boundaries of what's possible," said Chris Bellinger, chief creative officer of PepsiCo Foods North America, in a statement. "This mission is a testament to our commitment to delivering bold experiences and flavors, even in the most unexpected places."

You can read more about the new space Doritos in our full story by Robert Pearlman of collectSPACE.com.