SpaceX successfully launched “Fram2 mission”, marking first-ever human spaceflight over both Arctic and Antarctic regions. Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the mission sets a historic milestone in crewed space exploration.
Key Highlights of Fram2 Mission
Historic First:
- Fram2 is the first crewed mission to fly over both the North and South Poles.
- Previous missions never exceeded 65° north and south latitude, staying outside the polar circles.
Mission Objectives:
- Advance research that supports future long-duration space travel to Mars.
- Utilize polar orbits for optimal Earth observation, climate monitoring, and surveillance, providing complete global coverage as the Earth rotates beneath the spacecraft.
- Conduct 24 scheduled experiments, including pioneering space X-ray imaging and microgravity mushroom cultivation.
Scientific and Operational Milestones:
- The privately funded mission carries four astronauts on a days-long orbital journey.
- Additional cameras are used to document the journey, supporting both scientific research and future mission planning.s
- Post-landing studies will focus on the crew’s physiological responses to zero gravity and space motion sickness.
Crew Composition:
- Chun Wang: Chinese-born Maltese entrepreneur and crypto company co-founder who organized the Fram2 mission.
- Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen: Norwegian filmmaker.
- Pilot Rabea Rogge: German robotics researcher.
- Eric Philips: Australian polar explorer, serving as mission specialist and medical officer.
About Fram2 Mission
Named After : Named after the historic “Fram”, the renowned 19th-century Norwegian polar expedition ship famed for its Arctic and Antarctic voyages.
Innovative Flight Path: The mission’s unique polar orbit not only offers complete global coverage but also paves the way for advanced Earth observation and environmental monitoring.
Experimental Endeavours:
- The crew is set to conduct a diverse array of experiments aimed at both scientific discovery and the practical challenges of extended space missions.
- Experiments include space X-ray imaging, microgravity mushroom cultivation, and comprehensive studies on human health in space.