Space X mission Polaris Dawn led by billionaire Jared Isaacman splashes down after first-ever private spacewalk
THE SpaceX capsule carrying billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew has landed back on Earth after a historic trip to space.
The Dragon capsule returned to Earth after five days in orbit where the amateur astronauts completed the world’s first ever commercial spacewalk.
Tech tycoon Isaacman, 41, was the first amateur astronaut to ever walk in space as part of the landmark mission on Thursday.
This morning the SpaceX capsule carrying all four splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida’s Dry Tortuga.
Re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft approached temperatures of 1,900 degrees Celsius under the pressure of pushing through the air at around 7,000 mph.
It landed shortly after 3.30am local time in an event live streamed by SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk.
The footage showed the pod landing off the coast of Florida underneath four parachutes.
Later it was hauled inland by support workers on the ground.
One could be seen opening a hatch on the outside of the capsule before the live stream panned inside, showing the four astronauts grinning after their safe landing.
Safety measures had to be put up around the exit hatch of the pod to make sure no damage was done as the crew climbed out.
Incredible footage showed all four exiting the pod and celebrating with their colleagues.
They will now be flown inland via helicopter to be checked out by medical professionals before reuniting with their families.
SpaceX wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth”.
US space agency NASA said their mission marks a “giant leap forward” for the commercial space industry.
Commander of the expedition Isaacman was seen stepping into the vacuum of space around 400 miles above the Earth in a live stream on Thursday.
Stunning images show the billionaire exiting the capsule with a terrifying background of black open space.
“It’s gorgeous,” he said, as he stared at Planet Earth.
After about 15 minutes outside, he was replaced by SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis.
It was the furthest humans have travelled from Earth in over 50 years.
The Polaris Dawn crew started the mission after blasting into orbit on Tuesday.
They completed it without the usual NASA training, as part of an initiative to test out a new line of spacesuits.
The newly developed SpaceX suits are equipped with heads-up displays, helmet cameras, and advanced joint mobility systems.
The elite group consists of Isaacman, 41, retired military fighter pilot Scott Poteet, 50, and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis, 30, and Anna Menon, 38.
Both women left the pod first, followed by pilot Poteet before Isaacman rounded up the group.
He could be seen saying ‘goodbye’ to the Dragon capsule before heading off-camera.