WATCH: Jewish tech billionaire about to begin first-ever private spacewalk

By AP and ToI Staff 12 September 2024, 1:56 pm

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This image made from a SpaceX video shows the crew of the first private spacewalk led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman inside the capsule, Sept. 12, 2024. (SpaceX via AP)

A Jewish billionaire kicks off the first private spacewalk, teaming up with SpaceX on the daring endeavor hundreds of miles above Earth.

Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and his crew waited until their capsule was depressurized before popping open the hatch.

Isaacman is to be the first one out, aiming to join a small elite group of spacewalkers who until now had included only professional astronauts from a dozen countries.

All four on board donned SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits to protect themselves from the harsh vacuum. They launched on Tuesday from Florida, rocketing farther from Earth than anyone since NASA’s moonwalkers. The orbit was reduced by half — to 458 miles (737 kilometers) — for the spacewalk.

It is the main focus of the five-day flight financed by Isaacman and Elon Musk’s company, and the culmination of years of development geared toward settling Mars and other planets.

This first spacewalking test, expected to last about two hours, involves more stretching than walking. The plan calls for Isaacman to emerge from the capsule but keep a hand or foot attached to it the whole time as he flexes his arms and legs to see how the new spacesuit holds up. The hatch sports a walker-like structure for extra support.

In 2021, Isaacson told CNN that he did not plan to fast for Yom Kippur even though the Jewish holiday coincided with the launch date of his first trip to space.

“To be very honest, I’m actually not a religious person,” he said.