VIDEO. SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission: impressive images of the first private spacewalk in history

The first private spacewalk in history that took place this Thursday, September 12th, gave rise to impressive images.

A private crew began the first-ever spacewalk by non-professional civilian astronauts on Thursday, September 12.

Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) officially began at 10:12 GMT when oxygen began to flow into the spacesuits of the astronauts.

“A giant leap for the commercial space industry”

Once the spacecraft’s hatch was opened, the four crew members of the Polaris Dawn mission were exposed to the vacuum of space, and two of them, billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX employee Sarah Gillis, ventured into the exterior of the capsule.

The spacewalk ended after about 1 hour and 45 minutes, SpaceX said. NASA CEO Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX, calling it a “giant step forward for the commercial space industry.”