SpaceX Delays Polaris Dawn Launch Due to Helium Leak, Plans Historic Spacewalk

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SpaceX has delayed the launch of its historic Polaris Dawn mission due to a helium leak discovered in a ground-side Quick Disconnect umbilical. Originally scheduled for early Tuesday, the mission is now targeting a Wednesday liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Polaris Dawn, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to achieve a series of milestones, including the first spacewalk by private citizens. The mission will reach an altitude of 870 miles, the highest for a crewed mission since the Apollo era.

The crew, which includes SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott Poteet, has trained extensively for over two years. Their mission will also include tests of new spacesuits, satellite communication advancements, and nearly 40 scientific experiments related to human health during space travel.

After six days in orbit, the crew will return to Earth with a splashdown off the Florida coast. Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned missions, with the third expected to feature the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Starship.