Billionaire’s Space Fantasy: SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission is a Luxurious Joyride to the Edge of Space
As the sun rose over Kennedy Space Center, a privileged few took to the cosmos in a lavish space cruise, courtesy of billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman. The SpaceX Falcon 9, adorned with Isaacman’s personal logo, blasted off into the early morning sky, carrying a crew of four on a five-day joyride to the edge of space.
The Polaris Dawn mission, touted as a groundbreaking experiment in space travel, is in reality a indulgent splurge by Isaacman, who has spared no expense in his quest for bragging rights as the first commercial space tourist. Joining him on this lavish adventure are three fellow thrill-seekers: mission pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel; and two SpaceX employees, mission specialist Sarah Gillis, an engineer and astronaut trainer; and mission specialist Anna Menon, a medical director who also runs SpaceX’s mission control.
As the crew soars to unprecedented heights, they’ll be conducting research to better understand the effects of radiation on the human body. But let’s be real, this is about the thrill of the ride, not the science. The crew will be blasted through the high-energy Van Allen belt, where radiation is far higher than at lower altitudes, but don’t worry, they’ll be safely ensconced in their luxurious spacecraft.
The real pièce de résistance is the spacewalk, where Isaacman and Gillis will venture into the vacuum of space for around 15 to 20 minutes, tethered to the capsule by umbilical cords. It’s a historic moment, to be sure, but one that will be remembered more for the Instagram-worthy photos than the scientific significance.
The Polaris Dawn mission is a partnership between Isaacman and SpaceX, with neither party disclosing the cost of the flight or how much Isaacman is paying to fly. But one thing is certain: this is a lavish indulgence, with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation providing in-capsule WiFi, a critical piece of tech that could enable reliable crew communications on future missions to the Moon or Mars.
As the crew returns to Earth after five days in orbit, they’ll be greeted as heroes, but let’s not forget the real winners here: Isaacman and his SpaceX cronies, who have managed to turn space travel into a luxury good.
