Embry-Riddle Alumnus Jared Isaacman Performs First-Ever Civilian Spacewalk During Historic Polaris Dawn Mission

Isaacman meets with Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., during a visit to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022. (Photo: Embry-Riddle)

Jared Isaacman, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumnus and commander of a team of civilian astronauts aboard the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, has become the first astronaut to conduct a commercial spacewalk.

Isaacman graduated from Embry-Riddle in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics. When Isaacman emerged from SpaceX’s Dragon capsule in his state-of-the-art spacesuit, he uttered these words: "Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world."

The SpaceX Dragon capsule carries the LLAMAS multi-camera system, developed by Embry-Riddle students under the direction of Dr. Troy Henderson, director of the Space Technologies Lab and associate professor of Aerospace Engineering. The camera system — a product of a collaboration among Isaacman, Embry-Riddle and the SpaceX team — will capture video of crew operations during the expedition. The images retrieved after the flight will be used to create virtual reality experiences.

Additionally, to assess the influence of these missions on human health, Dr. Amber Paul, assistant professor in Embry-Riddle’s Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, and her Omics Lab for Health and Human Performance will process biospecimens collected from the crew.

We congratulate Embry-Riddle alum Jared Isaacman and his crew for a successful spacewalk and wish them well for the remainder of their expedition. Read more about Embry-Riddle’s contributions to this historic mission.

Posted In: Engineering | Human Factors | Institutional News | Space