FinTech billionaire Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, made history on Thursday by becoming the first private individual to embark on a spacewalk.
The spacewalk was part of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, a groundbreaking initiative launched from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on September 10, 2024.
Isaacman, aged 41, exited the Crew Dragon spacecraft, stepping into the vacuum of space at an altitude of 1,400 km (870 miles)—three times higher than the International Space Station.
His venture into deeper space is further than any human has ever gone, adding a new milestone in the era of private space exploration.
During the spacewalk, Isaacman shared a reflective message: “Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do. But from here, it sure looks like a perfect world.” This mission marks a significant step in humanity’s exploration of space beyond professional astronauts, as Isaacman led a team of private spacewalkers.
Joining Isaacman was Sarah Gillis, a space operations engineer at SpaceX, while Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a former US Air Force pilot, and Anna Menon, a SpaceX engineer, remained aboard the spacecraft. The entire crew underwent months of rigorous training to ensure their preparedness for the mission.
This historic venture was praised by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who stated on X (formerly Twitter), “Strive to greater heights, for a future brighter than the past, waking up each morning inspired, to learn new secrets of the Universe!”
The mission, known for its immense cost, which Isaacman personally funded, was part of his continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. Previously, Isaacman commanded the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, the first all-civilian mission to orbit.
Summary:
- Jared Isaacman completes first private spacewalk as part of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission.
- The mission reached an altitude of 1,400 km, a new milestone for private space exploration.
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk praised the achievement, encouraging further exploration.
- The mission reflects the growing role of private individuals in space ventures.