Billionaire Jared Isaacman and engineer Sarah Gillis are set to venture into the darkness of space when they exit their SpaceX Dragon capsule to perform the first civilian spacewalk on Friday.
The Polaris Dawn mission is set to launch on Wednesday - delayed from Tuesday due to technical issues with the Falcon 9 rocket - from Florida for a five-day trip around the Earth.
It will carry four passengers to an altitude of about 700km – further than any humans have travelled since the Apollo era, which ended in 1972.
At that height, Mr Isaacman, 41, who is no stranger to adrenalin-filled stunts, and Ms Gillis, 30, a SpaceX astronaut trainer who usually keeps her feet on the ground, are aiming to float their way into the history books.
Also on board the Dragon capsule carried into space by a Falcon 9 rocket will be retired US Air Force officer Scott Poteet and Anna Menon, another SpaceX engineer.
Until now, spacewalks have always been the preserve of professional astronauts venturing into the unforgiving environment of space.
Mr Isaacman, chief executive of payment processing firm Shift4, said on a YouTube briefing last week that it is risky “because you're throwing away all the safety of your vehicle, right? And it now comes down to your suit – it becomes your spaceship.”
“Once your suit is good and you're ready to go, I imagine, a lot of people someday in the future are going to be – maybe even families – bouncing around on the lunar surface in their in their SpaceX EVA [extravehicular activity, or spacewalk] suit,” said Mr Isaacman.
The mission was first announced in 2022 as part of the broader Polaris programme, funded by Mr Isaacman.
Jared Isaacman: Entrepreneur behind mission
In addition to his business achievements, Mr Isaacman is a trained pilot with numerous world records, including one for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet.
In 2021, he made headlines as mission commander for the first all-civilian mission to space. Inspiration4, which also launched aboard SpaceX, carried the billionaire and three other crew members around Earth for three days.
Polaris Dawn will be SpaceX's fifth crewed private space mission, with another – Fram2 – scheduled for later this year.
Sarah Gillis: Engineer ready to fly
At 30, Ms Gillis has already carved out a significant role in the industry, working as a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX.
While on Earth she has been involved in training astronauts for some of the company’s most critical missions, Ms Gillis will now step into the spotlight – and into space.
SpaceX spacewalk suit
For the Polaris Dawn mission, SpaceX has developed a spacesuit specifically for the first civilian spacewalk.
It includes all the essentials of a spacesuit, such as a built-in life support system that controls temperature and pressure, flexible joints for easier movement and an integrated communication system for constant contact with mission control.
But compared to traditional spacesuits, the SpaceX suit is lighter, more flexible and incorporates modern technology to make spacewalks more accessible for civilians. While Nasa’s bulky suits are designed for eight-hour spacewalks outside of the International Space Station, the SpaceX one is for short-duration trips outside.
Ms Gillis said they trained in many different versions of the suit to help determine which one works best.
“Pretty much every single day, we'd walk in and there would be a different suit,” she told the briefing. “It would have a different glove, a different elbow, a different shoulder and there was this constant iteration of suit components with the suit team to test and collect data.”
Nasa astronauts preparing for a spacewalk train in a swimming pool to create a weightless environment, but these SpaceX passengers trained with a suspension system that helped them experience the sensation of floating in microgravity.
The spacewalk is set to be broadcast live on the SpaceX website, at a time yet to be decided.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Teaching in coronavirus times
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
