During SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, a crew member shared their experience aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and descended towards Earth at high speed. The crew’s historic five-day mission included the first privately funded spacewalk.
Scott Poteet of Polaris Dawn described the intense brightness of the plasma surrounding the spacecraft during re-entry. He mentioned how the plasma started as a purple/pink hue and transformed into bright flickering flames, lasting for 8 minutes. Poteet expressed that the image of the plasma was unforgettable.
The plasma phenomenon occurs as temperatures rise around the spacecraft, causing air molecules to break apart and form an electrically charged plasma. The occupants of the spacecraft can witness this mesmerizing sight through the windows, although it can be quite daunting.
Another ISS resident, Matthew Dominick, expressed the excitement of spotting the Crew Dragon from the space station. He described the moment when they spotted the spacecraft streaking through the atmosphere on its way to Florida while they were traveling in a different direction. The crew on the ISS could see the Dragon capsule despite the plasma streaks obstructing the view.
NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured a stunning photo of the Crew Dragon from the Cupola module, showing the multicolored entry trail over Florida and the distinctive cone shape of the spacecraft. Pettit used a Nikon Z9 camera with a 200mm lens to capture the image.
