KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – After more than two years of training, four space travelers will embark on a historic mission for commercial spaceflight.
Polaris Dawn is set to lift off from the Space Coast aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket eyeing multiple milestones for space technology, including the first commercial spacewalk, and “achieving the highest altitude of any human spaceflight mission since the Apollo program”.
Here are the crew members who make up Polaris Dawn, which includes a tech entrepreneur, two SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force fighter pilot.
Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander
Nearly three years after commanding Inspiration4, the first all-civilian spaceflight, Jared Isaacman is looking to lead another private spaceflight.
The billionaire CEO of Shift4 is an accomplished aviator and adventurer from Pennsylvania and has clocked in over 7,000 flight hours of aviation experience.
He holds several world records, including two speed-around-the-world flights in 2008 and 2009. Just like previous Isaacman-led missions that have supported charitable causes, the funding raised during the Polaris Dawn mission will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Mission Pilot
Scott Poteet is a retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. with 20 years of service in the military, including Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird No. 4 Demonstration Pilot, Operational Test & Evaluation Pilot, and Flight Examiner.
Like Isaacmen, Poteet was involved in the Inspiration4 mission, serving as the mission director.
The New Hampshire native is a runner and triathlete, completing 15 Ironman Triathlons since 2000, including four Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist
Sarah Gillis is a Colorado native and is one-half of the SpaceX Lead Space Operations Engineer duo aboard Polaris Dawn. Gillis began as an intern for SpaceX in 2015, and worked on human-in-the-loop testing of the Dragon spacecraft. Today, she is responsible for overseeing the company’s astronaut training program.
“I know exactly what goes into the testing and the design and the rigor behind absolutely everything in the spacecraft,” Gillis told News 6′s James Sparvero. “So, very, very excited to fly on my favorite Dragon spacecraft.”
Anna Menon, Mission Specialist and Medical Officer
At SpaceX, Anna Menon oversees the development of crew operations and serves in Mission Control as both a Mission Director and Crew Communicator.
“I dreamed of going to space from a very young age, but I’ve also just been so happy and grateful to contribute to it in any way,” Menon told Sparvero.
The Houston resident is also a children’s book author.
Her book “Kisses from Space” was inspired by her preparation for the Polaris Dawn mission and her desire to share her spaceflight experience with her children.
Menon plans to read the book from space during the mission and proceeds from her sales of the book will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Polaris Dawn mission is set to launch from the Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX has not confirmed an official date yet
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