Florida, April 1, 2025 (ANI): SpaceX has successfully launched the Fram2 mission, marking the first-ever human spaceflight to orbit Earth over its North and South Poles. The mission lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 9:46 p.m. EDT on March 31 (0146 GMT on April 1).
Mission Details
The Crew Dragon capsule Resilience is carrying a crew of four private astronauts into a polar orbit for a three-to-five-day mission. The spacecraft separated from the rocket’s second stage 10 minutes after liftoff and is now independently circling the Earth’s poles.
The mission is expected to conclude with a Pacific Ocean splashdown, a first for SpaceX astronaut missions. Previously, crewed flights landed off the coast of Florida, but this shift aims to reduce the risk of debris falling on populated areas.
Who are the Crew Members?
Chun Wang (Malta) – Mission Commander
Jannicke Mikkelsen (Norway) – Vehicle Commander
Rabea Rogge (Germany) – Pilot
Eric Phillips (Australia) – Medical Officer & Mission Specialist
what is the goal of this Scientific Research?
The Fram2 crew will conduct 22 scientific experiments, including:
The first attempt to grow mushrooms in space
Capturing on-orbit X-rays of the human body
Studying the effects of microgravity on bones and muscles
Upon return, the astronauts will forgo standard post-flight medical assistance to study how the human body readjusts to Earth’s gravity without external support.
Technical Milestones of this mission
The Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ droneship in the Atlantic Ocean about 5.5 minutes after liftoff.
Resilience has now completed four missions, including previous private spaceflights Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn.
watch the video here: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1906951397477929029
Legacy and Future Goals
The mission is named after the Norwegian exploration ship “Fram,” which ventured into the Arctic and Antarctic in the late 19th century. Fram2 continues its spirit of discovery by offering unprecedented views of Earth’s polar regions and advancing research for future space missions, including those to Mars.
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