Private astronauts have conducted a spacewalk for the first time, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration.

Driving the news: Polaris Dawn crewmates Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis took turns emerging from the upper hatch of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft “Resilience” on Thursday, performing history’s first commercial stand-up extravehicular activity (SEVA).

• The mission marks the 20th SEVA ever conducted and the 477th spacewalk overall.
• “I think back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman said as he gazed upon the planet.

Why it matters: This event signifies a new era where private missions are pushing the boundaries of space exploration, traditionally dominated by government agencies.

How it works: Isaacman and Gillis performed a SEVA instead of a complete spacewalk, in which astronauts stand partially outside the spacecraft without fully disconnecting.

• The Dragon spacecraft was equipped with “Skywalker,” a set of rails and footholds designed to keep the tethered astronauts in contact with the vehicle.
• SpaceX’s new EVA suits were tested. They feature advanced technology like a heads-up display, helmet cameras, improved joint mobility, and thermal insulation.

The big picture: The entire cabin was depressurized for the spacewalk, requiring all four crew members—including Scott “Kidd” Poteet and Anna Menon—to wear EVA suits.

• Poteet and Menon assisted from inside, managing the 8-foot umbilicals that supplied Isaacman and Gillis with oxygen and power.
• By keeping at least part of their bodies inside the spacecraft, the astronauts adhered to safety protocols established from historical stand-up EVAs.

Context: Stand-up EVAs have been a part of space exploration since 1966, starting with NASA astronaut Michael Collins during the Gemini 10 mission.

• Astronauts from the U.S., Russia, and China have conducted previous SEVAs.
• The Polaris Dawn mission builds on this legacy, demonstrating the capabilities of private spaceflight.

What’s next: The Polaris Program, funded by Isaacman, includes two more missions to advance commercial space exploration further.

Go deeper:

• The spacewalk began at 6:12 a.m. EDT and lasted one hour and 46 minutes.
• The mission tested new technologies that could pave the way for future private spacewalks and longer-duration missions.