The SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew is back on Earth, but their five-day mission in orbit wasn’t just another space trip. It was a game-changer, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in commercial space travel.

The Polaris Dawn crew, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, set a new altitude record by reaching 1,400 km (870 miles) above Earth—higher than any human has flown in the past 50 years — way beyond what the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope can reach.

This wasn’t just a joyride; it was the farthest a crew has travelled since NASA’s Apollo missions in the 1970s. And they didn’t just look down at Earth; two of the crew, Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, performed a daring spacewalk, becoming the first non-professional astronauts to do so.  

For around 15 minutes each, they tested out SpaceX’s new EVA (extravehicular activity) suits, which are designed for missions like this. “Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here — looks like a perfect world,” said Isaacman, speaking to mission control in California during the spacewalk.

Sure, space travel is exciting, but why should the average person care? For one, this mission shows that space isn’t just for government-funded astronauts anymore. Private companies, with the backing of individuals like Isaacman, are now capable of pulling off risky, history-making feats that were once only possible for NASA or other space agencies. This means the commercialisation of space is moving from science fiction to reality, opening up new possibilities for innovation, research, and even tourism.

The mission also tested new technologies like SpaceX’s advanced spacesuits and inter-satellite laser communications, which could make future missions safer and more efficient. These innovations aren’t just about space; they could eventually impact life on Earth, from improving global communications to advancing medical technologies through zero-gravity research.

Isaacman, who bankrolled the mission, was joined by two SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, and retired Air Force pilot Scott Poteet. 

While on their mission, the team conducted over 40 experiments, ranging from testing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications to studying how space travel affects human health. They even brought some creative flair with them. Gillis, a trained violinist, played “Rey’s Theme” from Star Wars in space. Her performance, streamed back to Earth using SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, was part of a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

This isn’t the end of the road for the Polaris Dawn program. It’s actually the first of three planned missions. The next one will likely involve the first manned flight of SpaceX’s Starship, a rocket that could eventually take humans to Mars. 

The future of space travel is unfolding fast, and missions like this one are paving the way for ordinary people to one day follow in the crew’s footsteps—or, perhaps more accurately, float in their space boots.