Billionaire completes historic private spacewalk and returns to Earth

A tech entrepreneur and his crew returned to Earth after a groundbreaking five-day mission that included the first private spacewalk. The SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida's Dry Tortugas, marking a significant achievement in commercial space exploration. Jared Isaacman, along with two SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force pilot, reached an altitude of 875 miles, surpassing the heights achieved by the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope. During the mission, Isaacman and SpaceX's Sarah Gillis became the 264th and 265th individuals to perform a spacewalk, a feat previously reserved for professional astronauts. The spacewalk, which lasted less than two hours, involved testing new spacesuit technology and was a crucial step for future missions to Mars. The hatch of the Dragon capsule was open for only about half an hour, during which Isaacman and Gillis conducted brief tests of their suits. This mission, known as Polaris Dawn, is part of Isaacman's personal space exploration program, which aims to push the boundaries of commercial space travel. He has previously chartered a flight with SpaceX, raising significant funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The financial details of the Polaris Dawn mission remain undisclosed, but it reflects Isaacman's commitment to advancing space exploration. The successful completion of this mission not only highlights the potential of private space travel but also sets the stage for longer missions in the future. SpaceX's efforts in developing spacesuit technology could pave the way for more ambitious endeavors, including potential manned missions to Mars.