Polaris Dawn launch delayed another 24 hours after SpaceX detects helium leak
The Polaris Dawn mission, an ambitious five-day journey to the upper reaches of Earth's orbit, had been slated for a Tuesday liftoff before a detected helium leak forced a 24-hour delay.
A SpaceX capsule carrying four commercial astronauts, who plan to perform a groundbreaking spacewalk, will not launch until at least Wednesday morning.
The Polaris Dawn mission, a daring five-day expedition to the upper regions of Earth's orbit, was initially scheduled for liftoff on Tuesday. However, a detected helium leak prompted a delay, as announced by SpaceX on social media site X.
Once the crew embarks aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, it will mark the second spaceflight for billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman. Isaacman, who funded the mission in collaboration with Elon Musk’s company, previously went to orbit in 2021 during Inspiration4, which was the first private orbital spaceflight.
Isaacman will lead a team that includes pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, who are both mission specialists. The Polaris Dawn mission aims to achieve altitudes higher than those reached since NASA's Apollo program in the 1970s and will conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk.
When Will Polaris Dawn Launch?
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon capsule is now scheduled to launch between 3:38 and 7:09 a.m. ET on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This launch delay, which is the second since the Polaris Dawn crew arrived in Florida last week, was needed to allow ground crews to investigate “a closer look at a ground-side helium leak” on equipment designed to detach from the rocket during takeoff, SpaceX stated on X.
We’re officially scrubbed for today, but the @SpaceX team is doing awesome work to ensure all systems are 100% ready for launch! https://t.co/ByLBUSVEqf pic.twitter.com/YfFv621fZg
— Sarah Gillis (@Gillis_SarahE) August 27, 2024
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which competes with the SpaceX Dragon for NASA’s approval to conduct routine orbital trips, also experienced a helium leak during its journey to the International Space Station. This leak, combined with thruster issues, led to NASA canceling the crew’s return trip to Earth aboard the Starliner.
SpaceX, however, remains optimistic that the helium leak will not impede the launch of its reliable Dragon spacecraft, which has been successfully transporting astronauts to orbit since 2020.
“Falcon and Dragon remain healthy, and the crew continues to be ready for their multi-day mission to low-Earth orbit,” the company said.
If further delays occur, the launch could potentially be rescheduled for Thursday morning, according to SpaceX.
