USA TODAY After launching Tuesday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the crew managed to ascend to 870 miles above Earth's surface. For Polaris Dawn mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, the two astronauts have now traveled farther from the planet than any other women ever have. Ahead of the crew is still a bold pioneering private spacewalk, which SpaceX said is on track to occur Thursday. NASA finds supermassive black hole called ‘Space Jaws:’ Why it deserves sci-fi horror name The ascent took the Polaris Dawn crew through the treacherous inner regions of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts, which astronauts will have to traverse on future missions to the moon and Mars. After the spacecraft reached 870 miles above Earth's surface, the dragon was to descend to a cruising orbit about 435 miles above Earth. Once in orbit, the crew was able to remove their spacesuits and begin making preparations for the tests and experiments they hope to conduct during the mission, SpaceX said. Two hours into the flight, they had their first meals and began testing a new laser-based satellite communication system using Starlink. Preparing for a risky spacewalk The Polaris Dawn crew, which also includes pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, also began preparations Tuesday for what may be the highlight of the mission: The first-ever commercial spacewalk. Until now, spacewalks have only ever been the purview of government astronauts like those on NASA missions. What's more, the complex orbital maneuvers most often take place in vehicles with airlocks that negate the need to depressurize an entire capsule. But because the Dragon does not have an airlock, the entire spacecraft will have to be depressurized when the hatch is opened. When that happens, the entire crew will be exposed to the vacuum of space and will need to wear extravehicular activity (EVA) suits designed by SpaceX to receive oxygen through tethers. Shortly after liftoff, the Dragon's pressure began to slowly lower while oxygen levels inside the cabin increased, helping to purge nitrogen from the crew members' bloodstreams. The protocol is intended to prepare them for the spacewalk and lower the risk of decompression sickness, SpaceX said. Polaris Dawn spacewalk time SpaceX has scheduled the spacewalk to occur at 2:23 a.m. EDT. If needed, a backup opportunity is available at the same time Friday. A live webcast will begin about one hour prior to the spacewalk on social media site X. What is the Polaris Dawn mission?