In a historic first for space exploration, SpaceX will launch a crewed spacecraft to fly over the Earth’s Polar regions later this year.
SpaceX confirmed on August 12, 2024, that in the first-time event, a four-person crew will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket and pass over the Polar regions aboard the Dragon capsule over a three-to-five-day mission.
The commercial astronaut mission has been aptly named Fram2, after the Norwegian ship that ventured on expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions between 1893 and 1912.
None of the crew members aboard Dragon’s sixth private mission have traveled to space before but will be led by Chun Wang, an entrepreneur and Adventurer from Malta.
“Wang aims to use the mission to highlight the crew’s explorational spirit, bring a sense of wonder and curiosity to the larger public, and highlight how technology can help push the boundaries of exploration of Earth and through the mission’s research,” SpaceX said in a statement.
Wang will be joined by Norway’s Jannicke Mikkelsen as vehicle commander, Australia’s Eric Philips as vehicle pilot, and Germany’s Rabea Rogge as a mission specialist.
The crew plans to observe Earth’s polar regions at an altitude of 425 to 450 km, studying unusual light emissions resembling auroras.
“The crew will study green fragments and mauve ribbons of continuous emissions comparable to the phenomenon known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), which has been measured at an altitude of approximately 400 – 500 km above Earth’s atmosphere,” SpaceX added.
The first human X-ray images taken in space will be captured during the mission and the effects of spaceflight on behavioral health will also be studied.
Falcon 9 will launch Fram2 to a polar orbit from Florida no earlier than late 2024.
