Billionaire’s Historic Spacewalk with SpaceX Delayed by Hours; New Timing Yet to Be Announced

Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s highly anticipated private spacewalk has been delayed by several hours due to unforeseen circumstances, SpaceX announced just an hour before the event was set to begin. The spacewalk, which was poised to make history as the first commercial spacewalk, was initially scheduled for Thursday but will now have to wait as preparations continue.

Isaacman, who is collaborating with SpaceX on this pioneering mission, and a SpaceX engineer were set to conduct the spacewalk outside their spacecraft, located hundreds of miles above Earth. The purpose of the spacewalk is to test new spacesuits designed for commercial use, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration.

Despite the delay, SpaceX assured the public that “all systems are looking good,” though no specific reasons for the postponement were provided. The crew, which includes Isaacman and two other astronauts, had already begun their space mission on Tuesday, embarking on a five-day journey in orbit.

During the spacewalk, Isaacman and the engineer will alternate their time outside the capsule, with two other crew members remaining inside the spacecraft, secured in their seats. The mission aims to demonstrate the capabilities and safety of new spacesuit technology, which could pave the way for future private space ventures.

Isaacman, known for his ventures in space tourism and his role in SpaceX’s private missions, has been a vocal advocate for advancing commercial space travel. This spacewalk was expected to be a significant step forward in proving that such activities can be conducted safely and efficiently in space.

The delay in the spacewalk has added a layer of anticipation and excitement to the mission, as observers and space enthusiasts await further updates on the new timing for this groundbreaking event.