SpaceX Faced Communication Blackout Before Historic Private-Sector Spacewalk
The SpaceX mission, Polaris Dawn, hit a significant snag before making history by conducting the first commercial spacewalk. The privately-funded mission, led by tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, experienced a communication blackout lasting an hour before the spacewalk was set to begin.
The $200 million mission, launched on September 10, 2024, reached a record-breaking apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 1,400 kilometers, marking a new milestone for crewed spaceflight. Isaacson and his fellow space tourist were ready to step out of their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule for the inaugural private spacewalk when the unexpected happened.
Reports indicate a power outage at SpaceX’s California facility, causing a loss of ground control. The crew, trainers, and flight director were reportedly able toGillian Moura
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