Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission slips to mid-2024

WASHINGTON — A private astronaut mission that will feature the first spacewalk from a Crew Dragon spacecraft has suffered another delay, this time to at least the middle of this year.
The Polaris Program, a series of private astronaut missions backed by billionaire Jared Isaacman, announced Feb. 8 that its Polaris Dawn mission was now scheduled for no earlier than the summer. The program had previously announced an April launch date.
“The additional time continues to provide necessary developmental time to ensure both the completion of these mission goals and a safe launch and return of Dragon and the crew,” it posted on social media.
Those goals are highlighted by a spacewalk, the first from a Crew Dragon spacecraft. That requires both the development of an extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit that can be used outside the spacecraft as well as modifications to the Crew Dragon, which lacks an airlock, to allow its cabin to be depressurized before the spacewal...

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