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Tencent Technology News According to foreign media reports, in the "Polaris Dawn" mission, American billionaire Jared Isaacman plans to step into the vacuum environment of space through the hatch of SpaceX's manned Dragon spacecraft, which will undoubtedly make history again.

Isaacman is confident in the safety of this mission, especially the new extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit that has undergone a long period of development and testing. This equipment will ensure that the four crew members, including him, are safe during the first commercial spacewalk in history.

"We put a lot of work into this, so we take safety for granted," Isaacman said as he arrived at the Kennedy Space Center for a news conference. "Spacewalks are considered dangerous because they require us to temporarily leave the safety of our spacecraft, and the space suit becomes our mobile life support system."

Isaacman and his team members - former US Air Force pilot Scott Poteet, SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, plan to take off on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket early Tuesday morning local time (15:38 Beijing time on August 27). The "Polaris Dawn" mission, as part of the "Polaris Program", is another milestone in Isaacman and Elon Musk's company's joint efforts to advance the boundaries of commercial space. (Notes to Editors:）

1. Modify the spacecraft and add hardware to facilitate spacewalks

The Crew Dragon they boarded was the same one that Isaacman flew on the precedent-setting "Inspiration 4" mission in 2021, marking the first manned space flight with an all-civilian crew. For this orbital mission, the Dragon spacecraft was specially modified to remove the docking mechanism and replace it with a dome window to provide a wider view of the universe. At the same time, the spacecraft also added new hardware such as hatches, designed specifically for Isaacman and Gillis' spacewalk.

Poteet and Menon will remain inside the spacecraft during the spacewalk, which will be conducted on the third day of the mission while the spacecraft is in an elliptical orbit at an altitude of about 700 kilometers.Tencent News will broadcast this exciting event live throughout, which is expected to last no more than two hours, so please stay tuned.

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Isaacman said: "During extravehicular activities, we will use the mobility assist device carefully designed by the SpaceX team to perform a series of carefully choreographed movements, just like dancing in space. During this mission, we will conduct a comprehensive test of the new space suit to gain a deeper understanding of its performance and provide feedback to engineers to provide information for future design innovations of space suits."

The mobility assist structure he referred to is called the Skywalker, a device located outside the hatch that the two men will use to complete the maneuver safely rather than relying on free floating.

As for why they didn’t float freely, as astronaut Ed White did during his first spacewalk on the Gemini 4 mission in 1964, Isaacman stressed: “Safety comes first. We have to make sure we are always connected to the Skywalker, with a stable foothold, whether it’s the hands or the feet. We borrowed from Buzz Aldrin’s safe operation mode on the Gemini 12 mission. Although floating freely looks cool and inspiring, we think it is safer to maintain at least one point of contact with the mobility aid.”

SpaceX is committed to the grand goal of colonizing Mars, and the first version of its EVA spacesuit has incorporated many cutting-edge technologies, including a head-up display, a helmet camera, and an innovative structure designed for joint flexibility and thermal insulation. Isaacman is full of expectations: "This is just the starting point, and there may be dozens of iterations and evolutions in the future. I am deeply honored to be the first to test it on this flight. Perhaps one day, its subsequent versions will help humans leave their footprints on Mars."

2. Develop multiple emergency strategies and be prepared for emergencies

According to the plan, Isaacman and Gillis will stay outside the Crew Dragon spacecraft for 15 to 20 minutes. During this period, two oxygen tubes connected to the space suits will ensure the oxygen supply through a 4-meter rope. After the mission is completed, the spacecraft will start the decompression procedure to restore the breathable environment in the cabin. If the re-pressurization is blocked, the space suits outside the cabin will be transformed into the lifeboat of the four-person crew to ensure a safe return.

Gillis stressed that SpaceX has carefully planned multiple emergency response strategies. She explained: "This is our starting point. We need to fully consider potential emergencies to ensure the safe return of every crew member. Therefore, we have designed a series of sophisticated operations to ensure that the starting point of the spacewalk is safe and the target is achievable. At the same time, through repeated drills, we are ready to deal with various emergencies and strive to be foolproof."

It is particularly worth mentioning that the spacecraft's orientation strategy takes into account both protection from micrometeorites and sun protection. Even under sunlight conditions, the space suit and visor can still play their due role. Gillis said: "This strategy cleverly combines sunshade and protection functions, providing an extra layer of protection for the spacecraft."

Isaacman admitted that he was worried that excessive focus on EVA details might affect attention to other mission goals, but the professionalism and rigor of the SpaceX team effectively alleviated his concerns. During the preparation for flight certification, SpaceX implemented a comprehensive risk assessment to ensure that every link could withstand scrutiny, as if everything needed to be reviewed from scratch.

3. Eliminate the potential fire hazard of space suits and reduce the possibility of decompression sickness

The four crew members participated in every risk briefing, including a potential fire risk that SpaceX identified and actively responded to during the development process. According to Bill Gerstenmaier, Vice President of SpaceX, his team conducted an in-depth analysis of the combustion problems that could be caused by electrostatic discharge in the oxygenated environment of the space suits, and quickly took a series of improvement measures, such as adjusting the process, optimizing the process, and introducing conductive materials, to ensure that there would be no mistakes.

Isaacman spoke highly of SpaceX's safety-first attitude in the cooperation of the "North Star Project". He emphasized that from the start of the project to the final implementation, SpaceX not only limited itself to the detailed review of EVA, but also conducted a comprehensive and in-depth review of the entire mission. This communication and transparency greatly enhanced his confidence in the success of the mission.

On the first day of the new low-Earth orbit, the crew began to adjust the air composition in the cabin, aiming to gradually transition to a pure oxygen environment to avoid decompression sickness. Gillis said: "During the 45-hour process, the cabin pressure will be gradually reduced, while the oxygen concentration will be gradually increased to reduce the risk. The next day, we will conduct pressurization tests and maneuverability demonstrations in the space suits, and through a series of in-cabin action sequence drills, we will ensure that the training is complete and lay a solid foundation for extravehicular activities."

To simulate the space environment, the crew conducted two days of comprehensive training in the vacuum chamber of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The entire process was meticulous, from decompression to the final EVA operation simulating 100% oxygen under a breathing mask.

The spacecraft has also undergone major modifications to support spacewalks, including increased oxygen reserves, upgraded nitrogen refresh systems, and additional environmental sensors to ensure that SpaceX can understand the cabin environment in real time, whether before, during, or after a spacewalk. Gillis said: "With the comprehensive upgrade of these life support systems, we have conducted extensive testing from the component to the full system level to ensure that there is no room for error."

SpaceX placed the entire spacecraft in a thermal vacuum chamber and simulated the entire process from decompression to vacuum and then to pressurization, using software and hardware from actual flights. During this process, the internal environment was exposed to vacuum to remove chemicals and impurities that may be released due to the space environment in advance.

“This is undoubtedly a high-risk endeavor,” Isaacman explained. “But it is precisely to address these risks that we have taken multiple mitigation measures.” He listed multiple safety safeguards: manual and automatic door opening mechanisms, enhanced multiple seal designs, dual systems to ensure the spacecraft’s re-entry into a habitable atmosphere, and adequate EVA oxygen supply.

"As we bravely step into the final frontier of space, any risk seems insignificant because every step is an investment in the future of humanity," Isaacman said. "While EVA is undoubtedly the most challenging part of the mission, it embodies the wisdom of countless people, precisely for those who will bravely move forward in the future of space construction. Therefore, despite its dangers, it is also the only way to infinite possibilities, and naturally attracts the most attention and effort."

4. Micrometeorites, orbital debris and radiation threats

It is worth noting that EVA is only one of the many high-risk operations in this flight.

On the first day of the mission, the crew will send the spacecraft to a new altitude of 1,400 kilometers, which will surpass the 1,372-kilometer low-Earth orbit record set by NASA astronauts Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon during the Gemini 11 mission in 1966. "Moving to higher altitudes means facing an unprecedented set of challenges, including micrometeorites, orbital debris and a more severe radiation environment, which all pose a unique test," Isaacman pointed out.

He said the flight is designed to allow the spacecraft to experience standard conditions for deep space and future Mars missions, including passing through Earth's Van Allen radiation belts, a dense area of ​​charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetosphere. "From a human health and scientific perspective, this trip will provide us with valuable data and insights," Isaacman said. "If we embark on a trip to Mars in the future, we want to return safely and healthily. Therefore, every step of exploration is of great significance."

However, in view of the potential risks of the high-orbit environment, especially the potential impact of radiation on the structure of the spacecraft, Isaacman revealed: "We will strictly control the stay time to efficiently collect key data and then evacuate quickly to ensure the safety and success of the mission."

Gerstenmaier highly praised Isaacman's courage in carrying out dangerous missions, believing that this is not only the driving force for SpaceX to move towards its ambitious goals, but also reflects the constant challenge of limits. However, he emphasized: "At SpaceX, safety is always the top priority. We have the sacred mission of ensuring the safe return of every crew member. The journey to space is full of challenges, but the safe launch, full support and final triumph of the Polaris Dawn mission are our unchanging commitment."

He also pointed out that after detailed due diligence and careful preparation, success is within reach: "EVA is indeed a risk, but everything is ready and we are full of confidence. From the space capsule to the space suit to the hyperbaric oxygen chamber to various tests, everything demonstrates the extreme preparation we have made for this mission."

Gerstenmaier said that SpaceX has achieved innovation and transcendence on the basis of inheriting NASA's excellent tradition. He said: "This is the highest tribute to the wisdom and courage of the team. They are leading the forefront of science and technology and pushing the boundaries of human exploration. We will carry out the mission with the most rigorous attitude, relying on scientific planning and comprehensive testing to fully prepare for space flight." (Compiled by Jinlu)