Key Points
- A SpaceX mission has facilitated the first private spacewalk in history.
- As the Dragon spacecraft used for the mission headed back to Earth for landing, it flew over Australia.
- One of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will be used for a NASA mission to retrieve astronauts next year.
American spacecraft manufacturer SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which has been launched into space 47 times, splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida after a five-day trip.
The Polaris Dawn mission
Billionaire Jared Isaacman was one of four people on board SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on a mission named Polaris Dawn. Source: AAP / AP
Billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who shared the cost of the Polaris Dawn mission with the Elon Musk-founded SpaceX, was part of a four-person crew on board the spacecraft.
The Dragon completed its first test flight with a crew in 2020, which earned the SpaceX spacecraft certification from the US’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Spacewalking through history
At that location, the spacecraft and crew were higher than both the International Space Station (ISS) and Hubble Space Telescope.
US entrepreneur and billionaire Jared Isaacman became the 264th person to take a spacewalk and the first non-astronaut to do so. Source: AAP / SpaceX handout
With much of his body outside of the aircraft, Isaacman carried out checks on the SpaceX spacesuit he wore before reflecting on the planet glittering below him.
Before Isaacman’s venture, all spacewalks were done by professional astronauts.
Shark Bay, WA seen from space
The UNESCO-listed area is the largest and most diverse sea grass ecosystem in the world and is home to fish, endangered green turtles, dugongs and the sharks it got its name from.
Dragon spacecraft
However, issues with its propulsion system led to NASA deeming it too risky to carry the crew home and the spacecraft returned to Earth without the crew.
“NASA astronauts embark on missions fully aware of the various scenarios that may become reality. This mission is no different, and they understood the possibilities and unknowns, including being aboard station longer than planned.”
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will come home on a SpaceX Dragon aircraft. Source: AAP / AP
Also on the ISS are four NASA astronauts and three cosmonauts (Russian astronauts).
With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press