The other three manned space flights will be carried out under the Polaris project, which revealed that this effort will "eventually lead to the first manned flight of the space exploration technology company's starship". For its part, the future mission of Polaris project will be used to demonstrate technologies related to space travel, and to study topics ranging from decompression sickness to the impact of space radiation on human health.
Although three missions have been planned, the Polaris Project only introduces the first mission in detail-it is called Polaris Dawn, and it is expected to be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2022 at the earliest. Like the above-mentioned Inspiration4 space flight, Isaac Mann will be the mission commander.
The Polaris Dawn will be joined by four crew members: Itzhakman will be the mission commander, Scott "Kidd" Potitt will be the mission pilot, Sarah Gillis will be the mission expert, and Anna Menon will be both the mission expert and the mission medical officer. Assuming all goes according to plan, the mission will involve the space exploration technology company's dragon-loaded spacecraft, which will be launched by the company's Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.
Once in space, the crew will spend five days to complete various objectives of the mission, including (hopefully) the first commercial spacewalk using EVA spacesuit of Space Exploration Technology Company. However, this will not be the only potential milestone of this mission, because it may also "reach the highest earth orbit in history", the Polaris project said in its announcement.
In addition to its research objectives (including studying a space-related visual problem, namely space-related neuro-eye syndrome), the crew will be the first person to test the laser communication system based on space exploration technology company Starlink. Many of these goals will provide data for future long-term space missions, including those that may lead to human settlement on Mars. The "Polaris Project" specifically points out that extravehicular spacesuit, communication test and every research goal are necessary efforts to help space agencies and private companies prepare for manned missions into deep space.
The announcement of the "Polaris Project" came a few days after elon musk, CEO of Space Exploration Technology Company, gave a speech on the update of space exploration technology company's starship. In his speech, he talked about the next expected milestone of the starship, ranging from the "far-reaching significance" behind his efforts to the reasons why he created a multi-planet future for mankind.
The event also showed the concept video of Space Exploration Technology Company, which showed the launch of the future starship of this private space company in the future mission to mars, and gave the public a unique understanding of its upcoming reusable spacecraft and its possible role in bringing mankind to the red planet.
Musk believes that it is no secret that human beings will not only live on the earth in the future. He revisited this topic at the beginning of his speech in February 2022. "There are always things that can go wrong on earth," Musk said when explaining the motivation behind the starship. "In the long run, it is very important and necessary for us to become a multi-planet species."
Musk asserted that this starship is a step towards a multi-planet future. The spacecraft consists of two parts: the upper interstellar spacecraft and the super-heavy first-class booster. When combined, the system will be able to send astronauts and cargo into deep space. The "Polaris Project" will help pave the way for the greater ambitions of space exploration technology companies, although people still have a long way to go from human settlements outside the earth.