SpaceX is gearing up for another historic launch, this time with the highly anticipated Polaris Dawn mission. The launch is set to take place on Friday, October 15th, and promises to be a truly groundbreaking event. Here’s what you need to know about the Polaris Dawn launch and how you can watch it live.
The Polaris Dawn mission is SpaceX’s first-ever private astronaut mission, in partnership with the space tourism company, Space Adventures. The mission will see a crew of four private astronauts blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This marks a major milestone in commercial space travel, as it will be the first time that a fully private crew will visit the ISS.
The crew for the Polaris Dawn mission includes Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut and Vice President of Axiom Space; Larry Connor, an entrepreneur and investor; Eytan Stibbe, an Israeli businessman and former fighter pilot; and Mark Pathy, a Canadian investor and philanthropist. The crew members will spend about eight days aboard the ISS conducting research and experiments before returning to Earth.
The launch of the Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled for Friday, October 15th, with a targeted liftoff time of 2:00 PM EDT from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew Dragon spacecraft will be lifted into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket, and the crew will dock with the ISS about 24 hours after launch.
If you’re interested in watching the Polaris Dawn launch live, you’re in luck. SpaceX will be livestreaming the launch on their official website, as well as on their YouTube channel. You can also tune in to NASA TV for coverage of the launch and docking with the ISS.
In addition to the live coverage of the launch, SpaceX will also be providing updates and behind-the-scenes content on their social media channels, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can follow along with the mission and get a closer look at the crew’s journey to the ISS.
The Polaris Dawn mission represents a significant step forward in the commercialization of space travel, as private individuals are now able to visit the ISS and conduct research in orbit. This mission is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting era of space exploration and tourism.
So mark your calendars for October 15th and get ready to witness history in the making with the SpaceX Polaris Dawn launch. It’s sure to be a sight to behold and a momentous occasion for the future of space travel.
