Billionaire completes 'dangerous' first-ever private spacewalk as first words are revealed
A billionaire is part of the team who have completed the first-ever private spacewalk.
US businessman Jared Isaacman, 41, achieved the billionaire title by becoming the founder of payment processing company Shift4 Payments and the founder of Draken International, a private air force provider.
Then in 2021, the philanthropist commanded Inspiration4, the first all-civilian spaceflight, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
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On Thursday at 6:52am ET (10.52am GMT), Isaacman embarked on the world's first private spacewalk, after what was a five-day flight financed by SpaceX.
His walk was followed by SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, 30, who took her turn moments later.
The duo were part of a crew of four onboard the capsule, with the main aim of the mission being to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits.
When Isaacman first exited the spacecraft, the crew back in SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, cheered on the remarkable achievement.
"Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world," he said in a live feed sent back down to his homeland, marking his first words in this historic event.
The group had around 15 minutes outside and climbed up through the hatch, one by one, testing out the stretchiness of the spacesuits.
Mission pilot Scott 'Kidd' Poteet and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon stayed in their seats throughout.
Martin Barstow, professor of astrophysics and space science at the University of Leicester and director of strategic partnerships at Space Park Leicester, said: “The first commercial space walk is a very exciting event. It demonstrates how the capability of commercial space companies is growing.
“Partnerships between these companies, including SpaceX, will be the model for how human space exploration is conducted in the future.”
Before heading off on the mission, Isaacman told X-Plane.org: "My passion for aviation goes back to really kindergarten.
"I always dreamed of being an astronaut but being realistic but thought being a pilot was more achievable. I am sure watching movies like Top Gun, Space Camp, The Right Stuff all helped fuel my interest.
"I built my first computer to play flight simulators. I went to the fighter pilot version of Space Camp, called Aviation Challenge, when I was 12.
"This was also the first time I got to fly a Cessna 172. As my business career started to take off, I balanced it out by flying as often as I could.
"I am really lucky my aviation career took me around the world, flying airshows, building a defence business and ultimately to space."
Topics: Space, SpaceX, Technology, Science
Anish Vij