The Polaris Dawn mission, which aims to conduct the first civilian spacewalk, also involves testing Starlink laser communication technology aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
SpaceX successfully launched the Polaris Dawn mission on Tuesday at 5:23 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission includes a crew of four civilians who will spend five days in orbit, marking a significant milestone as they attempt the first commercial spacewalk.
One of the mission’s key objectives is to evaluate Starlink’s laser-based communication capabilities in space. SpaceX intends to use the data gathered during this mission to enhance future communication systems for missions aimed at the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
This mission represents the first attempt to implement Starlink laser communications. SpaceX has equipped the Dragon spacecraft with what it terms the “Plug and Plaser” lasercom system, enabling communication with Starlink satellites throughout the mission. A Starlink router has also been placed inside the cabin of the Dragon.
Since early 2021, SpaceX has been deploying Starlink satellites that feature laser communications technology. In March, SpaceX’s president and COO, Gwynne Shotwell, announced plans to commercialize this laser technology, referring to it as “Plug and Plaser.” She mentioned this initiative at the SATELLITE 2024 event, highlighting the potential for Dragon capsules to connect to the internet during missions.
The Polaris Dawn mission is set to reach a higher altitude than any previous Dragon mission and will explore the highest Earth orbit ever achieved. The crew will also test newly developed SpaceX EVA (extravehicular activity) spacesuits and conduct scientific research.
Jessica Jensen, SpaceX’s vice president of Customer Integration and Operations, commented, “What the crew and Dragon aim to achieve over the next few days—from the first-ever commercial spacewalk in newly-designed EVA suits to traveling farther in Earth’s orbit since the Apollo program over 50 years ago, to testing Starlink—contributes to SpaceX’s goal of expanding human access to space as we work towards returning to the Moon, traveling to Mars, and beyond.”