From Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 To Jared Isaacman's Polaris Mission: Milestones In Spacewalk History | Watch

As popular American astrophysicist Carl Sagan once said, “The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.” Long after Sagan’s passing in 1996, his view resonates today as billionaire Jared Isaacman makes history as the first person to complete a private spacewalk.

On SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, Isaacman this week spent 12 minutes outside SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, joining nearly 260 other astronauts and cosmonauts who have ventured into the vacuum of space. Isaacman, alongside SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, conducted their spacewalk at an orbit altitude of approximately 700 km.

Spacewalk Milestone

The duo was equipped with specially adapted spacesuits, featuring helmet displays and cameras. As Isaacman stepped out of the Dragon capsule’s hatch, he marveled at the view of Earth, describing it as “a perfect world.” The spacewalk was meticulously planned due to the unique challenge posed by the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which lacks a traditional airlock. Consequently, the entire capsule had to be depressurised for the exit, exposing the remaining crew to the near vacuum of space.

Both Isaacman and Gillis wore the new spacesuits throughout the process, which went smoothly despite the inherent risks. Jared Isaacman’s achievement is a recent addition to the long history of spacewalks, which began with Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, according to BBC.

Historic Firsts

On March 18, 1965, Leonov became the first human to perform an extravehicular activity (EVA) during the Cold War Space Race. Exiting the Voskhod 2 through an inflatable airlock, Leonov spent 12 minutes outside, tethered to the spacecraft. His spacewalk was fraught with difficulties, including a rigid spacesuit and a twisted umbilical cord, which led to a harrowing struggle to re-enter the spacecraft.

The first American spacewalk came on June 3, 1965, when astronaut Ed White left the Gemini 4 spacecraft. Using a hand-held oxygen-jet gun, White floated outside for 23 minutes, although his jet gun’s fuel ran out quickly, forcing him to rely on his tether for movement. White’s life was tragically cut short in a 1967 Apollo 1 fire.

Buzz Aldrin’s First Selfie

In November 1966, Buzz Aldrin, famed for his moonwalk during Apollo 11, made history with what may be the first spacewalk “selfie” during the Gemini XII mission. Aldrin’s photographs, including one showing Earth over his shoulder, highlighted his efforts in overcoming maneuvering problems with a new training technique.

‘Untethered’ Bruce McCandless II

The 1984 spacewalk by Bruce McCandless II was revolutionary for its time. McCandless was the first astronaut to perform a spacewalk untethered, using a Manned Manoeuvring Unit (MMU) equipped with nitrogen thrusters. His 300-foot journey from the Space Shuttle Challenger was a testament to the advancements in spacewalking technology.

A few months later, in November 1984, astronauts Dale Gardner and Joseph Allen performed the first-ever space salvage mission. Using the MMU, Allen retrieved a malfunctioning satellite, humourously posing with a “for sale” sign, according to the report. The mission showed the growing capabilities of space operations.

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope faced a critical flaw in its mirror soon after its launch. Astronauts undertook a complex mission to repair it, conducting five spacewalks totaling 35 hours and 28 minutes. Kathryn Thornton set a record for the longest time spent spacewalking by a US woman, while Tom Akers accumulated 29 hours and 39 minutes of EVA time.

READ MORE:  Five Milestones In Spacewalk History As Polaris Dawn Completes World’s First Private Spacewalk | GFX

The era of the ISS

Since its inception, the International Space Station (ISS) has seen many big-ticket spacewalks. In 1998, astronauts James Newman and Jerry Ross performed three lengthy spacewalks to connect the ISS’s first modules. Their efforts were crucial in establishing a permanent human presence in space. In March 2001, astronaut Susan Helms set the record for the longest spacewalk, spending eight hours and 56 minutes outside the ISS while installing hardware.

This record remains unbroken, showcasing the endurance and skill required for such missions. Spacewalking has not been without its challenges. In July 2005, astronaut Stephen Robinson performed a risky repair of the Space Shuttle Discovery’s heat shield. His mission was the first in-orbit spacecraft repair, conducted following the tragic loss of the shuttle Columbia in 2003.

In July 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano experienced a near-disastrous spacewalk when water began pooling in his helmet. The incident, which occurred during an EVA to prepare cables for a new module, led to a dramatic rescue operation and highlighted the potential dangers of spacewalking. As NASA’s Artemis program looks to the future of space exploration, the lessons learned from these historic spacewalks will guide future missions.