Hey there, tech enthusiasts! It’s your favorite techie, Nuked, here to chat about an exciting event that’s about to blast off into the cosmos—SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission!

SpaceX is gearing up for its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission, where a crew of four astronauts will embark on an adventure aboard the Crew Dragon capsule. This five-day journey will take them through the Van Allen radiation belts and feature the first-ever spacewalk conducted by private astronauts. If you’re itching to catch all the action, here’s how you can tune in live!

So, what exactly is the Polaris Dawn mission? Launched into the spotlight in 2022, this ambitious endeavor is backed by billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman. Alongside him are three other skilled astronauts: retired U.S. Air Force pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Only Isaacman and Gillis will don their spacesuits for the spacewalk, occurring approximately 430 miles above our beautiful planet.

Once they reach orbit, our brave crew will soar to a jaw-dropping altitude of around 870 miles, marking the farthest humans have ventured since the Apollo missions over five decades ago! They’ll also traverse the Van Allen belts—those pesky bands of radiation filled with high-energy particles from the Sun and cosmic rays.

Now, why is Polaris Dawn such a big deal? The spacewalk is just one part of this mission’s grand agenda. The astronauts will also put SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits to the test. These suits are crafted from innovative materials for enhanced flexibility and come equipped with a 3D-printed helmet featuring a heads-up display and a glare-reducing visor. Talk about stylish space gear!

During the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will be testing these upgraded suits while inside the Crew Dragon capsule—because it lacks an airlock, they’ll be “exposed to the vacuum of space.” How’s that for a thrilling experience? Besides the spacewalk, this mission aims to gather valuable data on how space radiation affects our bodies and test Starlink’s satellite internet for communications with Earth. Plus, they’ll be investigating decompression sickness and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome.

Curious when all this excitement kicks off? Polaris Dawn could launch as early as Wednesday, August 28th, with SpaceX eyeing a launch window starting at 3:38 AM ET. They also have backup times set for 5:23 AM ET and 7:09 AM ET. Originally slated for Tuesday morning, the launch was postponed due to a helium leak issue on the Quick Disconnect umbilical—safety first!

If you want to witness this cosmic spectacle live, head over to SpaceX’s website or their X page for a livestream of the event! Coverage will begin around 12:05 AM ET. And don’t forget, you can also catch the thrilling spacewalk on day three of their journey—definitely a must-see!

Update as of August 27th: We’ve added details about the launch delay now pushing everything back to Wednesday morning. Buckle up; it’s going to be an epic ride!