Polaris Dawn: SpaceX to Launch Billionaire and Friends into Orbit – Because Why Not?

Buckle up, folks! The much-hyped Polaris Dawn mission, an all-civilian spaceflight, is set to launch on Tuesday. If you thought Inspiration4 was a wild ride, wait till you see what billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has planned for this one.

What's the Big Deal?

Four private astronauts will blast off in a SpaceX Dragon capsule, aiming to reach the far edges of Earth's orbit. And guess what? They'll be pulling off the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Talk about making history!

This mission isn't just about bragging rights. It's a critical step toward future deep space exploration. Because let's face it, NASA and the rest of the space crowd are already eyeing Mars.

Who's Footing the Bill?

You guessed it – Jared Isaacman, the guy behind 2021's Inspiration4, is bankrolling this adventure. And of course, Elon Musk's SpaceX is a key player too.

When's Liftoff?

The crew touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center last week and are ready to rocket off as early as Tuesday. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will lift off atop a Falcon 9 rocket, aiming for a 3:38 AM liftoff. But don't fret if there are delays – the launch window lasts until 7 AM, according to NASA.

If Tuesday doesn't pan out, they've got backup launch times lined up for Wednesday.

How to Watch

SpaceX will be streaming the launch via X, formerly known as Twitter. The webcast will go live about three and a half hours before liftoff.

NASA's also selling tickets to catch the launch live in Florida.

FLORIDA TODAY, part of the USA TODAY Network, will provide live coverage starting about two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

The Game Plan

• Day 1: Launch, followed by a pass through the Van Allen radiation belt, reaching 870 miles above Earth. The capsule will then settle into a cruising orbit around 435 miles up.
• Day 2: Spacewalk prep, including checks on their fancy SpaceX-designed spacesuits. Also, Mission Specialist Anna Menon will read a children's book to her kids and patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• Day 3: The big spacewalk – livestreamed, of course. Two crewmembers will step out, but since the Dragon doesn't have an airlock, everyone will need to suit up.
• Day 4: Test a snazzy new laser-based satellite communication system using Starlink.
• Day 5: Carry out some 40 science experiments and prep for reentry.
• Day 6: Reentry and splashdown at one of seven sites off the Florida coast.

Contributing: Rick Neale, Florida Today

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com