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Polaris Dawn mission update: SpaceX Dragon takes man to highest orbit in 50 years and women to furthest from Earth in the history of humans


The four astronauts of the Polaris Dawn mission traveled to 870 miles above Earth on Tuesday. Ahead of them Thursday is a bold private spacewalk.

Shortly after liftoff, the Dragon's pressure began to slowly lower while oxygen levels inside the cabin increased, helping to purge nitrogen from the crew members' bloodstreams. Isaacman, founder of internet company Shift4 Payment who helped to fund the mission along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, is the only member of the Polaris Dawn crew to have been to outer space before. Because the Dragon is not docking at the International Space Station, its crew will be entirely reliant on the oxygen and supplies they have stored on the spacecraft, which is only enough for about a week, Isaacman previously explained on social media site X.

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