Polaris Dawn astronauts complete historic 1st commercial spacewalk

DAVID BRENNAN
·1 min read

The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission crew completed the first-ever commercial spacewalk on Thursday.

Two crew members -- commander Jared Isaacman and mission specialist Sarah Gillis -- exited the Dragon spacecraft on the "extravehicular activity," as SpaceX described it. Pilot Scott Poteet and mission specialist Anna Menon stayed inside the capsule to support the operation.

All crew members are now considered "spacewalkers" as the capsule was depressurized for the outing, thus exposing all four crew to the vacuum of space.

The spacewalk was delayed from the 2:23 a.m. ET scheduled event, but was completed before 7 a.m. ET.

PHOTO: This image made from a SpaceX video shows the crew of the first private spacewalk led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman inside the capsule, Thursday Sept. 12, 2024. (SpaceX via AP)
PHOTO: This image made from a SpaceX video shows the crew of the first private spacewalk led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman inside the capsule, Thursday Sept. 12, 2024. (SpaceX via AP)

MORE: Polaris Dawn lifts off ahead of planned historic first commercial spacewalk

SpaceX hosted a live webcast of the event that saw Isaacman pop out of the Dragon capsule to complete maneuvers and tests outside the spacecraft.

"Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here -- looks like a perfect world," Isaacman said of the view from space.

PHOTO: This image made from a SpaceX video shows the start of the first private spacewalk led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman Thursday Sept. 12, 2024. (AP)
PHOTO: This image made from a SpaceX video shows the start of the first private spacewalk led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman Thursday Sept. 12, 2024. (AP)

Gillis exited the Dragon capsule for 10 minutes after Isaacman returned.

The astronauts held a handrail system that was significantly shorter than previous NASA spacewalks.

PHOTO: This image provided by SpaceX on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, shows a view of Earth and the Dragon capsule's Skywalker spacewalk platform shortly after the Polaris Dawn crew launched into an orbit. (SpaceX via AP)
PHOTO: This image provided by SpaceX on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, shows a view of Earth and the Dragon capsule's Skywalker spacewalk platform shortly after the Polaris Dawn crew launched into an orbit. (SpaceX via AP)

Isaacman and Gillis performed "a series of mobility tests in the newly-designed SpaceX EVA suit" during the spacewalk, SpaceX said on its website.

ABC News' Gina Sunseri contributed to this report.

Polaris Dawn astronauts complete historic 1st commercial spacewalk originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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