Historic Space Glimpse Succeeded

A groundbreaking spacewalk has taken place at an altitude of 600 kilometers. Two astronauts on the charter trip Polaris Dawn were able to leave the capsule and admire the panoramic view of our earth. But wonderful is short-lived – they held onto a small railing the whole time, and kept their feet in the "doorway".

» Published: September 12 2024

Historic Space Glimpse Succeeded
Photo: Space X via AP/TT

The project is historic because such an advanced space exercise has never been done in private ownership before. The spacecraft comes from Elon Musk's company Space X and has been hired for a "charter trip" by billionaire Jared Isaacman.

In a live broadcast on the internet, 41-year-old Isaacman was seen spinning a wheel to unlock the circular hatch of the Dragon capsule, and then he was able to open it out into the emptiness of space. Isaacman grabbed the railing, pulled himself up to look around for a few minutes, with a view down towards the globe, before gliding back into the capsule again.

Then it was the turn of 30-year-old astronaut colleague Sarah Gillis to float around outside the spacecraft for a while. The railings sit around a small viewing platform called Skywalker.

The Farthest Women

In total, there are four people on board for the nearly week-long journey, including pilot Scott Poteet and Space X employee Anna Menon. The capsule does not have an airlock, but during the walk, the "door" is open, which means that all four must wear tight space suits – a test in itself, since the suits are entirely newly developed by Space X.

The Dragon capsule reached an altitude of 1,400 kilometers earlier during the journey – the greatest distance anyone has been from the Earth since the moon expeditions over 50 years ago, according to Space X.

Since only men were part of the moon expeditions, American media note that Gillis and 38-year-old Menon have now set a record as women farthest from the Earth.

It is Isaacman who is financing the entire project, but how much he is paying billionaire colleague Musk for the trip has not been disclosed.

Beyond Authorities

The role of the US space agency NASA is limited to renting out the launch platform at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

This development has led experts to ask themselves how the responsibility is distributed – can the US be held accountable if something goes wrong? Experts tell the news site Al Jazeera that the country has that responsibility, according to an agreement signed between space powers in the 1960s.

But according to the aviation authority FAA, such activities are beyond the reach of US authorities. "FAA cannot regulate the safety of commercial space travel for humans under federal law," the authority writes to Al Jazeera.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Trump Claims Zelensky Wants to
1 MIN READ

Trump Claims Zelensky Wants to Exit US Mineral Deal

Zelensky Thanks Stubb for Finland's
2 MIN READ

Zelensky Thanks Stubb for Finland's Support After Trump Golf Diplomacy

Ice Storm Leaves 500,000 Without
1 MIN READ

Ice Storm Leaves 500,000 Without Power Across US and Canada

Islamic Extremists Suspected in Deadly
1 MIN READ

Islamic Extremists Suspected in Deadly Attack on Burkina Faso Soldiers

Trump Hints at Third Term
1 MIN READ

Trump Hints at Third Term Despite Constitutional Limits

Erna Solberg Witnesses Ukraine's War
1 MIN READ

Erna Solberg Witnesses Ukraine's War Devastation on Frontline Journey

US Students Face Deportation Over
3 MIN READ

US Students Face Deportation Over Alleged Pro-Palestinian Support

Red Cross Condemns Israeli Attack
1 MIN READ

Red Cross Condemns Israeli Attack on Ambulance Workers in Rafah

Trump Warns of Strikes if
1 MIN READ

Trump Warns of Strikes if Iran Rejects Peace Deal Proposal

Trump Frustrated with Putin Over
1 MIN READ

Trump Frustrated with Putin Over Ukraine, Threatens New Tariffs

Erdogan Urges PKK to Disarm
1 MIN READ

Erdogan Urges PKK to Disarm Without Delay

Tsunami Warning Lifted After 7.1
1 MIN READ

Tsunami Warning Lifted After 7.1 Earthquake Near Tonga

Netanyahu Urges Hamas to Disarm
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu Urges Hamas to Disarm in Ceasefire Talks

Norwegian Rocket Test Ends in
2 MIN READ

Norwegian Rocket Test Ends in Crash but Deemed a Success by Isar Aerospace

Sudanese Army Takes Control of
2 MIN READ

Sudanese Army Takes Control of Khartum as RSF Withdraws

Israeli Defense Intercepts Yemeni Robot
1 MIN READ

Israeli Defense Intercepts Yemeni Robot as Air Raid Sirens Sound

Netanyahu Heads to EU Despite
1 MIN READ

Netanyahu Heads to EU Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

US Pledges Strong Military Presence
1 MIN READ

US Pledges Strong Military Presence in Taiwan Strait to Deter China

Greenland's Prime Minister Firmly Rejects
2 MIN READ

Greenland's Prime Minister Firmly Rejects Trump's Takeover Claims

Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills
1 MIN READ

Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills Eight, Including Five Children

Grave Cleanup Sparks South Korea's
1 MIN READ

Grave Cleanup Sparks South Korea's Largest Forest Fire

Greenland's Independence Dream: A Dangerous
2 MIN READ

Greenland's Independence Dream: A Dangerous Utopia, Warns Lynge

Civil War Complicates Earthquake Relief
2 MIN READ

Civil War Complicates Earthquake Relief in Myanmar

Russian Attack on Kharkiv Leaves
2 MIN READ

Russian Attack on Kharkiv Leaves Two Civilians Dead, Hospital Damaged

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Hind Kabawat Becomes First Female Minister in Syria's New Government

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Drone Strike on Kharkiv Military Hospital

Hezbollah Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on
1 MIN READ

Hezbollah Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanon After Ceasefire

Zelensky Highlights Russia's Silence on
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Highlights Russia's Silence on US Ceasefire Proposal

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal;
1 MIN READ

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal; Israel Submits Counter-Offer

Israel Expands Ground Offensive in
1 MIN READ

Israel Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Gaza

Frederiksen's Greenland Visit Signals Closer
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen's Greenland Visit Signals Closer Denmark-USA Ties

Vance's Greenland Speech Criticized for
2 MIN READ

Vance's Greenland Speech Criticized for Lacking Substance

Myanmar Earthquake Victims Face Dire
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Victims Face Dire Healthcare Shortage, UN Warns

Two Dead, 105 Arrested in
1 MIN READ

Two Dead, 105 Arrested in Nepal Protests Over Former Monarchy

WHO Faces Budget Cuts After
2 MIN READ

WHO Faces Budget Cuts After US Withdrawal Decision

US Aid Halt Sparks Toxic
5 MIN READ

US Aid Halt Sparks Toxic Risk in Vietnam, Cleanup Efforts Stalled

Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills
1 MIN READ

Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills Over Ten, Including Children

Protesters in Copenhagen Rally Against
1 MIN READ

Protesters in Copenhagen Rally Against US Interest in Greenland

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Several Injured in Serious Violent Incident in Trondheim, Norway

Massive Istanbul Protests Demand Release
1 MIN READ

Massive Istanbul Protests Demand Release of Mayor Imamoglu