SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Polaris Dawn mission on September 10, 2024, carrying four private astronauts into low-Earth orbit. This mission represents a significant step in commercial spaceflight, as it includes the first commercial spacewalk, utilizing a state-of-the-art spacesuit. The launch occurred at 5:23 a. m. ET from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after being rescheduled from late August due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Prior to the launch, SpaceX had reported an 80% chance of favorable weather, which ultimately held true. The crew is set to perform the historic spacewalk on September 12, marking a new era for private astronauts in space. The Polaris Dawn mission aims not only to achieve record altitudes but also to advance spaceflight technology significantly. This initiative is part of the broader Polaris Program, which seeks to explore new frontiers in human space exploration. As such, the mission has drawn considerable attention from both the scientific community and the public.