Thu Sep 12 13:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Canadians React to Historic Spacewalk: Polaris Dawn Crew Sets New Record
**Toronto, Canada** – The Polaris Dawn mission, which saw two astronauts complete the first-ever commercial spacewalk, has generated significant excitement in Canada.
The mission, which saw the crew ascend to an altitude of nearly 1400 kilometers above Earth, has already set a new record for the highest altitude mission since the Apollo program over 50 years ago.
The spacewalk, funded in part by billionaire Jared Isaacman, saw astronauts Isaacman and Sarah Gillis test new SpaceX spacesuits while outside the capsule. The event was a significant milestone in the advancement of space exploration, paving the way for future lunar and Martian missions.
Canadian astronauts, who have a history of participating in spacewalks, have shared their thoughts and experiences with the Star.
“Earth is separate from you as a planet, and you are in space itself,” said Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian commander of the I.S.S. “That is an extremely significant personal moment and an extremely rare moment in human history.”
Steve MacLean, who conducted a spacewalk in 2006, emphasized the extensive training astronauts undergo to prepare for these events. “If you wait until the experience to deal with (things going wrong), then you’re probably going to die,” he said.
Dave Williams, a three-time spacewalker, added that even seasoned astronauts experience a sense of awe and vertigo when facing the vastness of space. “You don’t really know how you’re going to react to being outside in this vacuum of space, kind of looking … 400 kilometres at the earth below you.”
The Polaris Dawn mission is a testament to the continued advancement of human space exploration, and the experiences of the astronauts, both physically and emotionally, are a reminder of the incredible challenges and rewards that come with venturing beyond our planet.
First Piper 