SpaceX has announced a groundbreaking private mission called Fram2, which will be the first crewed spaceflight to orbit over Earth’s polar regions. The mission, funded by cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chun Wang, will carry a four-person crew in a Dragon capsule for 3-5 days at an altitude of 425-450 km.The diverse crew includes Wang as mission commander, Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, Australian polar explorer Eric Philips, and German robotics expert Rabea Rogge. This will be the first spaceflight for all crew members.During their mission, the crew will conduct scientific observations, including studying aurora-like phenomena known as ‘STEVE’ and capturing the first X-ray images of humans in space. The Dragon capsule will be equipped with an observation dome for enhanced viewing and photography.This mission represents a significant step in private space exploration and SpaceX’s growing role in space tourism. As Wang stated, ‘A new chapter in space exploration is unfolding before our eyes’. SpaceX has already completed 13 crewed missions in the past four years, including several space tourism flights.The Fram2 mission, named after a ship that explored the North and South Poles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida by the end of 2024. It will achieve the highest inclination ever reached by a crewed flight, surpassing the current record held by the Soviet mission Vostok 6 at 65°.This development comes as NASA continues to face challenges with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, highlighting the increasing importance of SpaceX in both government and private space operations.
Key points
- SpaceX’s Fram2 will be the first crewed mission to orbit Earth’s poles.
- The mission will conduct unique scientific observations, including aurora studies and human X-rays in space.
- This mission represents a significant advancement in private space exploration and tourism.
