In a breathtaking leap for humanity, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire businessman and space enthusiast, made history as the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk as part of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission. His journey, which took place on September 12, 2024, marks a new chapter in space exploration, as it shifts away from government astronauts and into the realm of privately funded spaceflight. Isaacman’s journey began aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket.
Not only did the mission set a record by reaching an altitude of 870 miles—making it the highest orbit since the Apollo missions—but it also showcased the limits of commercial space travel. For reference, this altitude is nearly three and a half times higher than the International Space Station’s orbit, putting the crew in greater exposure to cosmic radiation and space debris. The Thrill of the Spacewalk The highlight of the mission, and what set it apart, was Isaacman’s spacewalk—a first for any private individual.
Stepping out of the Dragon capsule and gazing upon Earth, Isaacman was struck by the surreal beauty of the planet. “From here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” he remarked, a poetic encapsulation of the awe space explorers often feel when seeing Earth from the void. The spacewalk itself wasn’t just for show.
It was a critical test of SpaceX’s new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits, which are designed to improve mobility, comfort, and safety during spacew.