Summary

  • Four astronauts have launched into space, before carrying out the first privately-funded spacewalk

  • The mission is being bankrolled by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who is mission commander

  • He is joined by Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force pilot, and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon

  • Previously, only government-funded astronauts have carried out spacewalks

  • There was a four-hour launch window in the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

  • SpaceX pushed the Falcon 9 launch to 10:23 BST (5:23 EDT) after bad weather delayed an earlier attempt

  • Tap the Watch live button to follow developments

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission blasts off

Live Reporting

Edited by Sophie Abdulla

  1. Mission bankrolled by billionaire Jared Isaacman

    Pallab Ghosh
    Science correspondent

    Commander Jared Isaacman of Polaris DawnReuters

    The mission has been purchased by billionaire Jared Isaacman, also the mission commander.

    He will have Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired US Air Force Lt Colonel, as his pilot, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon as mission specialists, with Menon also the medical officer.

    All are private citizens, rather than publicly employed by Nasa.

    Isaacman has been to space before, having funded and commanded the Inspiration4 all civilian crew mission in 2021.

  2. 'Unfavorable weather' delays launch

    In a post on X, SpaceX says the Falcon 9 is now due to launch at 10:23 BST (05:23 EDT) due to "unfavourable weather".

    The previous target was around a couple of hours before that - at 08:38 BST (03:38 EDT).

  3. SpaceX's Polaris Dawn prepares for blast-off

    Pallab Ghosh
    Science correspondent

    The Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled to launch this morning.

    The earliest time for blast off was 08:38 BST (03:38 EDT) - but prepare to be patient. It’s a four hour launch window and with people on board, flight engineers will take all the time they need to make sure it’s safe to launch.

    In particular, they will pick a time when they believe that there is the lowest risk of the spacecraft passing through the debris of micrometeorites in orbit.

    Remember - you can watch the launch live from Florida by pressing Watch live at the top of the page.