Alturas Analytics Joins Historic Polaris Dawn Mission
Moscow, Idaho—October 18, 2024—Alturas Analytics is excited to announce its participation in the groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission, which launched on September 10, 2024. This mission represents a leap in space exploration, with the Dragon spacecraft spending five days in orbit.
Key mission highlights include:
High-Altitude Exploration: The Polaris Dawn mission took advantage of Falcon 9 and Dragon’s maximum performance, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date, reaching the highest Earth orbit ever flown with a peak apogee of 1,408.1 kilometers above Earth.
First-Commercial Spacewalk: Polaris Dawn successfully completed the first commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) and the first-ever EVA from the Dragon spacecraft while traveling at 17,500 miles per hour in an elliptical orbit of 190 x 700 km above the Earth.
In-Space Communications: The crew tested the Starlink laser-based communication system for future deep-space missions.
Health Impact Research: Participated in extensive studies on space radiation effects, decompression sickness, and spaceflight-associated health issues.
Alturas Analytics, in collaboration with Polaris Dawn, SpaceX, and a consortium of leading institutions, is focusing on pharmacokinetics research. The research group, named Space Team – PK, included John Donehoo, Robert Guttendorf, and Neoteryx by Trajan. The team focused their study efforts on better understanding how spaceflight affects the absorption and metabolism of medications, addressing potential changes in drug efficacy and safety due to space-induced physiological alterations.
Robin Woods, President of Alturas Analytics, stated, “We are thrilled that our bioanalytical expertise is a part of this historic mission. Polaris Dawn represents a major advancement in space science, and our involvement highlights our commitment to advancing research in space health.”
About Alturas Analytics: Alturas Analytics is a GLP compliant bioanalytical CRO specializing in MS/MS solutions supporting preclinical and clinical research, IND submissions, and new drug approvals. In addition to providing PK support services to pharmaceutical companies worldwide, Alturas maintains an intensive research effort to apply new technologies toward scientific advancement. Our success is built on developing long-term relationships with clients by delivering high-quality bioanalytical results in a timely manner.
About Polaris Dawn: Polaris Dawn is the first of three human spaceflights under the Polaris Program. The program is named after Polaris, a constellation of three stars more commonly known as the North Star, which has been a guiding light throughout human history to help us navigate the world and inspire progress. The Polaris Program has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and El Sistema USA® to create the Harmony of Resilience. This partnership is grounded in a shared belief in the power of human resilience and pursuit of extraordinary goals. Inspired by the universal language of music and the relentless fight against childhood cancers and diseases, this moment was created with the hope of inspiring the next generation to look towards the stars. Not just to dream, but to overcome, persevere, and achieve the seemingly impossible. Both organizations can be supported at https://polarisprogram.com/music/.
To learn more about Polaris Dawn, visit https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/ and follow the mission on X (@PolarisProgram), and Instagram (@PolarisProgram).
