D-Day is approaching for the four “astrotourists” of the Polaris Dawn mission. It is Monday, August 26, at 3:38 a.m. EST (9:38 a.m. in Paris), that the launch is scheduled from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Falcon rocket responsible for propelling the Crew Dragon capsule and its four crew members into orbit. A 100% SpaceX mission, therefore, which aims to become the first in history to see private citizens attempt a little escape into the interplanetary void.
The highlight of this five-day mission, the extravehicular activity (EVA) will be reserved for two of the four occasional astronauts, the other two remaining on board the capsule which, in the absence of an airlock, will be completely depressurized once the hatch has been opened.
