SpaceX is set to conduct the first-ever private spacewalk next week, marking a significant test of innovative equipment, such as streamlined spacesuits and a cabin designed without an airlock.

This mission represents one of the most perilous undertakings for Elon Musk's aerospace company.

A billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military pilot, and two SpaceX staff members are scheduled to launch on Tuesday aboard a modified Crew Dragon spacecraft, with plans for a 20-minute spacewalk 434 miles (700 km) above Earth two days later.

Historically, spacewalks have been exclusive to government astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), located 250 miles (400 km) from the planet's surface.

The five-day mission, named Polaris Dawn, will follow an elliptical orbit, coming as close as 190 km (118 miles) to Earth and reaching distances of up to 1,400 km (870 miles), the furthest humans have traveled since the conclusion of the Apollo moon program in 1972.

Crew members, including billionaire Jared Isaacman, will wear SpaceX's newly designed slim spacesuits in a Crew Dragon vehicle that has been adapted to allow its hatch to open in the vacuum of space, eliminating the need for a traditional airlock.

"They're pushing the envelope in multiple ways," retired NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman said in an interview. "They're also going to a much higher altitude, with a more severe radiation environment than we've been to since Apollo."

The mission has been funded by Isaacman, the founder of the electronic payment firm Shift4. While he has not disclosed the exact amount spent, estimates suggest it exceeds $100 million.

Accompanying him on this mission will be Scott Poteet, a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Air Force, along with SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both of whom hold senior positions at the company.

For SpaceX, known for its development of cost-effective, reusable rockets and high-end private space travel, this mission presents a chance to enhance technologies that may be applicable for lunar and Martian exploration.

As the Crew Dragon spacecraft and spacesuits venture far beyond Earth's protective atmosphere, they will undergo testing of their electronics and shielding while traversing the Van Allen belt, a region where charged particles from the sun can interfere with satellite electronics and pose risks to human health.

"That's an additional risk that you don't face when you just stay in low-Earth orbit and go up to the ISS," Reisman said.

NOT A NORMAL SPACEWALK

The Polaris spacewalk is scheduled for the third day of the mission, with preparations commencing approximately 45 hours prior. The entire cabin of the gumdrop-shaped Crew Dragon will be depressurized, exposing it to the vacuum of space.

Although only two astronauts will be outside, connected by an oxygen line, the entire crew will rely on their spacesuits for life support. In the days leading up to the spacewalk, the crew will initiate a "pre-breathe" procedure to fill the cabin with pure oxygen and eliminate nitrogen from the atmosphere.

The presence of nitrogen in the astronauts' bloodstreams could lead to bubble formation, obstructing blood flow and resulting in decompression sickness, similar to the risks faced by scuba divers ascending too quickly.

An ultrasound device will be employed to monitor bubble formation, among various tools utilized during the mission to support numerous scientific experiments, offering researchers valuable insights into how astronauts may perform on the lunar surface or in deep space environments.

Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for aerospace medicine at the University of Central Florida's internal medicine department, remarked, "This presents us with a distinctive opportunity to evaluate these vehicles in an exceptionally unique setting."

While NASA maintains stringent oversight regarding astronaut safety during its missions, there are currently no established U.S. standards or regulations governing safety for private spaceflights like Polaris.

During a press conference on Monday, SpaceX representatives and the Polaris crew indicated that they have developed plans for various contingency scenarios in the event of mission complications, such as an oxygen leak or a failure to properly seal the hatch door, although they did not disclose specific details.

Reisman expressed confidence in the Polaris crew's preparedness to manage unforeseen incidents, stating, "However, there is little margin for error."