Polaris Dawn is as much about art as it is about science

The history of space exploration can be said to be written in images as much as in words. The iconic picture of Buzz Aldrin saluting the American flag on the surface of the moon is one of the most familiar and well-beloved.

For the Polaris Dawn mission, the iconic image is that of two of the astronauts: first Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur who paid for the flight, then Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer, emerging half out the hatch with the distant Earth as a backdrop. 

They were testing the function of the new SpaceX EVA suits, which are newer and more flexible than the ones used by the astronauts on the International Space Station. They were also creating art to inspire generations.

The second great work of art to come out of the Polaris Dawn mission was a musical performance that took place partly in space and partly at various locations on Earth. While Sarah Gillis played “Rey’s Theme” from the Star Wars series while floating in the Crew Dragon cabin, various orchestras from around the globe accompanied her. 

The resulting video, entitled “Harmony of Resilience” will raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and El Sistema USA, which promotes music education.

Polaris Dawn flew 1,400 kilometers above Earth, farther away from Earth than any humans have been since Apollo 17 in 1972. And it would not be a proper space mission if it did not have lots of science experiments tucked into its five-day mission.

The experiments — 36 in all from 31 institutions — according to the Polaris Dawn website, focused on how humans adapt to the space environment. Human beings suffer a variety of syndromes, including bone and muscle loss, balance issues and motion sickness. The spacecraft also tested the Starlink laser communications system.

Space.com notes that the Polaris Dawn astronauts tested “a commercial device that can collect and integrate measurements of health, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate and temperature.” The device used ultrasound technology to help diagnose astronauts’ health issues in near-real-time.

These experiments are important because of plans for long-term human space flight, especially to Mars. Human beings evolved on the Earth, with its gravity, atmosphere and shielding from cosmic background radiation.

Humans were not built to live in environments of low or no gravity and exposure to radiation. If we propose to establish bases on the moon, cities on Mars, and more orbiting facilities such as the International Space Station, we must learn to survive in such an environment.

The remarkable aspect of the Polaris Dawn mission is that it is an entirely private undertaking. SpaceX’s Elon Musk, developed the Crew Dragon and the Falcon 9 launch vehicle with NASA funding so that astronauts can travel to and from the ISS. Musk is now selling rides on his spaceship to private customers such as Isaacman to further space exploration.

Polaris Dawn was not the first private space mission. Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo (now retired) and Blue Origin’s New Shepard have been taking passengers on suborbital jaunts for years. A company called Axiom Space has mounted three private missions to the ISS with more planned.

It should be noted that Axiom, which is also working on a commercial space station and lunar EVA suits, is suffering a severe cash crunch and will need an infusion of capital going forward to remain viable.

Isaacman has taken a previous group of private astronauts on the Inspiration4 mission. Isaacman is planning two more Polaris flights, one in a Crew Dragon, and the other in a SpaceX Starship. Dates and crews have yet to be announced.

Within living memory, space flight has been the sole province of governments with deep pockets and geopolitical motivations for sending people beyond Earth. American public policy that saw the utility of commercial partnerships for NASA has greatly decreased the cost of launching cargo and people into space has changed that situation.

Axiom and Isaacman have taken the hardware developed by the NASA/commercial space partnership and have struck out on their own. Think of it as Space Age 2.0.

Sound public policy should encourage such private space missions. Private individuals and businesses, with the vision to make the world a better place, are exploring the heavens. They deserve all praise and encouragement for such public spirit.

Mark R. Whittington is the author of “Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?” “The Moon, Mars and Beyond” and, most recently, “Why is America Going Back to the Moon?” He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner.