Elon Musk's SpaceX polaris dawn mission delayed due to helium leak; check rescheduled date and time

Falcon 9 (Image: SpaceX)

Space enthusiasts will have to wait a bit longer for SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, now rescheduled to lift off on Wednesday, 28th August. The delay comes after a helium leak was detected in ground equipment at Kennedy Space Center, just hours before the planned launch.

In a statement on X, SpaceX informed that the teams are closely examining a helium leak at the Quick Disconnect umbilical. "Falcon and Dragon remain in excellent condition, and the crew is prepared for their multi-day mission to low-Earth orbit. The next launch window is set for no earlier than Wednesday, 28th August," the company stated.

Polaris Dawn, the inaugural mission of SpaceX's Polaris program, represents a significant milestone in human spaceflight. Funded and organised by billionaire Jared Isaacman, the mission promises a range of groundbreaking achievements. The mission will feature the first-ever civilian spacewalk, a feat previously accomplished only by government astronauts.

Jared Isaacman will lead the mission, commanding the Crew Dragon capsule with his team of three: Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a former US Air Force lieutenant colonel, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Their objectives include reaching the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo era and performing the first private spacewalk in history. The crew will don SpaceX-developed extravehicular activity (EVA) suits for this historic event.

The mission is also set to conduct 36 research studies from 31 partner institutions, aiming to advance human health both on Earth and during extended space missions. Additionally, the crew will test Starlink’s laser-based communications technology in space.

The highlight of the mission will occur two days after launch, with a 20-minute spacewalk planned 434 miles (700 km) above Earth. This private spacewalk will mark a new chapter in space exploration.

A live webcast of the mission will start approximately three and a half hours before the new launch time, allowing viewers to witness this historic moment in real-time.