SpaceX’s First Privately-Funded Spacewalk: Billionaire Jared Isaacman and Crew Complete Historic EVA

This image made from a SpaceX video shows the start of the first private spacewalk led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman Thursday Sept. 12, 2024.

In a groundbreaking milestone for private space exploration, billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX crew member Sarah Gillis completed the first-ever privately-funded spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission. The historic extravehicular activity (EVA) took place early Thursday, with Isaacman floating just outside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft at an orbit of 700 kilometers, nearly twice the altitude of the International Space Station.

An artist's impression of a Polaris Dawn astronaut flowing just outside the Crew Dragon capsule in the first commercial spacewalk. SpaceX

The main objective of the spacewalk was to test SpaceX's new EVA suits, designed for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Isaacman and Gillis took turns stepping out of the capsule, tethered by 12-foot-long umbilicals that supplied oxygen, power, and communication. Cameras mounted on their helmets and the Crew Dragon provided stunning views of Earth and space as the crew sailed in orbit.

Isaacman marveled at the sight of Earth, stating, "Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do. But from here, it sure looks like a perfect world."

The Polaris Dawn crew (left to right): Anna Menon, pilot Scott Poteet, commander Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis. SpaceX

The spacewalk, which lasted 1 hour and 46 minutes, involved testing the suits' mobility and comfort, with Isaacman noting, “We’re going to make use of various mobility aids...it’ll look like we’re doing a little bit of a dance.” Both crew members completed their tasks successfully, reporting feeling “healthy” after the EVA.

The five-day Polaris Dawn mission, SpaceX’s fifth commercial flight, also aims to conduct 36 research experiments. It is the first of three missions in collaboration with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, with future plans including a piloted flight of SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship rocket.

The Polaris Dawn crew looks up through the hatch of a Crew Dragon simulator, framed by a scaffold known as the "Skywalker" that will provide hand and foot holds during short spacewalks by mission commander Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis. Gillis is visible at lower left in this photo with Isaacman at upper right. Their crewmates are Anna Menon, upper left, and pilot Scott Poteet, lower right. SpaceX

While Isaacman’s financial contribution to the mission remains undisclosed, the venture marks a significant leap forward in the evolution of commercial space exploration.