Polaris Dawn Raises Millions for St. Jude
As the Polaris Dawn crew prepares for their own launch into space on August 26 with SpaceX, the mission’s fundraising arm is in full swing for its chosen nonprofit. St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalWho studies and treats cancer in children.
Polaris Dawn Commander Jared Isaacman said his first spaceflight, Inspiration4 in 2021, “raised over $250 million for them. We’ve raised millions since then with Polaris Dawn, and we’ll continue to do so for the duration of the Polaris program.”
In collaboration with Isaacman and the Polaris Dawn crew, the expedition found partners to help raise more money for St. Jude.
Doritos has created new Zero Gravity Cool Ranch chips designed for safe eating in weightlessness and is offering the chips and space cans as prizes as part of a fundraising project, which you can find at https://doritos.experience.stjude.org/So far, the project has raised over $538,000, and is approaching its goal of $585,000.
Meanwhile, luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has donated a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn”, which will be worn on the flight and auctioned off to benefit the St. Jude Foundation after the flight.
Mission specialist Anna Menon has also written a children’s book called It’s called “Kisses from Space.” She will read the book during the trip, and proceeds from the book sales will go to the St. Jude Foundation.
Polaris Dawn crew one week after launch
The four private astronauts on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission are a week away from launch after two years of training for a mission they hope will include the world’s first private spacewalk.
American billionaire Jared Isaacman, who previously backed his own Inspiration4 spaceflight with SpaceX, will command the Polaris Dawn mission, the first of three new spaceflights he is purchasing from SpaceX.
Isaacman, pilot Scott “Kid” Poteet, and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both SpaceX principal space operations engineers, arrived at the launch site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Aug. 19. The launch is scheduled for August 26 at 3:38 a.m. ET (0738 GMT)..
The mission, announced in 2022, will test SpaceX’s new spacesuits during a two-hour spacewalk during the five-day mission. On Aug. 19, the crew spoke to reporters about their upcoming mission.
Read all about it in our concluding story here.From Josh Diener of Space.com.
Doritos Heads to Space With Polaris Dawn
The Polaris Dawn spacecraft will carry some brand new snacks into space when it launches aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience vehicle on August 26.
Doritos is flying a brand new, space-safe Doritos Zero Gravity Cool Ranch chips during the special space flight. The limited-edition flavor is available for purchase online and features an oil-based coating to keep the classic Doritos powdery topping from floating away in weightlessness.
“The limitless possibilities of space have inspired us to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Chris Bellinger, chief creative officer, PepsiCo Foods North America, in a statement. “This mission is a testament to our commitment to delivering bold experiences and flavors, even in the most unexpected places.”
You can read more about the new Doritos space in our full story by Robert Perlman. SPACE.com Collection.
