Billionaire Jared Isaacman returns to Earth after historic private spacewalk in SpaceX mission
Jared Isaacman, 41, exits the SpaceX capsule on a tether into the vacuum of space, hundreds of miles from Earth during the world's first private spacewalk on Sept.ember 12, 2024, in a still image from video. Photo REUTERS
Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and his SpaceX crew returned to Earth on Sunday after completing a groundbreaking five-day space mission.
The crew, including Isaacman, two SpaceX engineers, and a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot, splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida’s Dry Tortugas, marking the end of a trip that took them higher than any humans have traveled since NASA’s moon missions.
During their mission, Isaacman and Sarah Gillis became the 264th and 265th people to perform a spacewalk, venturing into space nearly 460 miles above Earth.
“We are mission complete,” Isaacman radioed after the successful return, with the crew celebrating their safe splashdown.
This private spacewalk, a first for non-professional astronauts, is part of Isaacman’s Polaris space program, which aims to test spacesuit technology for future Mars missions.
This mission, dubbed 'Polaris Dawn', is Isaacman’s second privately chartered flight with SpaceX, with more planned.
While Isaacman shared the mission cost with SpaceX, the exact amount remains undisclosed. His first mission in 2021 helped raise over $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.