The last time humans reached such a height was during the Apollo program.
The first day of the private space mission Polaris Dawn, which launched on September 10, has ended. During the first day, the Crew Dragon ship, on which the astronauts are flying, reached heights of 1,400 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
This is the first time in 50 years that humans have been this high above the planet. The last time astronauts flew here was during the Apollo lunar missions. This is what Earth looks like from 1,400 kilometers.
The Polaris Dawn mission’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is currently flying at an altitude of approximately 3 times higher than the International Space Station. The mission’s crew has begun conducting scientific experiments; Polaris Dawn is planning to conduct several dozen experiments.
The most interesting event of the mission will happen on September 12: the crew will attempt a spacewalk. This will be done using the new EVA spacesuits that the crew will wear throughout the flight; the Crew Dragon does not have an airlock, so the astronauts will simply open the ship’s hatch.
The Polaris Dawn mission is expected to last five days, with more such missions planned for the future.
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