The civilian Polaris Dawn crew made a phone call home from space to share their historic mission with two of their favorite nonprofits.
Funded and helmed by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, Polaris Dawn launched early Tuesday morning (September 10) and subsequently completed the first commercial spacewalk and the highest orbit of a crewed spacecraft since the Apollo program, but Isaacman and his crew are also supporting nonprofits through public events to raise funds and awareness.
As one example, four astronauts unveiled the U.S. flag aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft on Wednesday (Sept. 11) to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks across multiple states that killed about 3,000 people.
“We are forever grateful” for the sacrifices made by military and emergency responders in this and other incidents, Isaacman’s business partner, Scott Poteat, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and current Polaris Dawn pilot, told Folds of Honor from space.
Related: SpaceX Polaris Dawn astronauts perform historic first private spacewalk in orbit (VIDEO)
Folds of Honor is an organization that supports spouses and families of military members who have been killed or disabled in action. “We just want to take a moment to honor those sacrifices and carry on that legacy,” Poteet said.
Joining Isaacman on the call were mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, who are SpaceX engineers. Menon also held her own event in space on Wednesday, reading from a children’s book she co-authored.
“I’m so excited to be speaking with you all today and to be reading a book that’s really special to me,” Menon said from orbit before reading a children’s story in front of the cameras.
This book isKiss from Space(Penguin Random House, 2024) is co-written by Menon and Keri Vasek and illustrated by Andy Harkness. The story follows a family of “adventurous dragons” who support each other unconditionally.
All proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, which Isaacman also supported with SpaceX’s Inspiration 4, the first space mission he funded and commanded himself, which surpassed its $200 million fundraising goal in 2021.
