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Matías S. Zavia
WriterAerospace and energy industries journalist at Xataka.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Incredible things happen when you combine big fortunes with SpaceX’s launch capabilities. The Polaris Dawn mission marked two significant milestones: the first private extravehicular activity and the highest altitude manned flight since the Apollo program. The upcoming Fram2 mission is now set to achieve something that has never been done before, even by government space agencies.
Fram2 will be the first manned spaceflight into polar orbit, marking the first time a spacecraft will carry its crew over the polar ice caps. The mission will be commanded by Chun Wang, a Chinese-Maltese entrepreneur known for his success in bitcoin mining. The four crew members will be the first humans to observe Earth’s north and south poles from space.
A Historic Feat
To date, there’s never been a human spaceflight in polar orbit. The highest inclination reached by a manned mission was 65 degrees, achieved by the Soviets in 1963 with the Vostok 6 mission. SpaceX aims to achieve a polar orbit of 90 degrees.
To access a polar orbit, the spacecraft must launch either north or south, which entails flying over inhabited areas of Earth. This approach requires more fuel. Additionally, in the event of an emergency during takeoff or reentry, ensuring a safe landing and crew rescue becomes more challenging.
Fram2 is scheduled to launch on Monday, March 31, at 11:30 p.m. local time from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A in Florida. It’ll fly aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience. In addition, SpaceX plans to land the Falcon 9 rocket booster in the Bahamas for this mission.
Who Is on Board
The crew members of the Fram2 mission.
Wang is the co-founder of F2Pool, one of the world’s largest bitcoin mining companies. He’s also the founder of Stake Fish, an ethereum staking platform. These ventures must be highly profitable, especially considering that a flight aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft costs around $200 million.
Wang was born in China but acquired Maltese nationality in 2023 through a golden passport. He resides in Svalbard, an archipelago north of Norway, and frequently travels intending to visit all 249 recognized countries and territories.
Accompanying him on this journey will be a Norwegian cinematographer, a German scientist, and an Australian doctor:
- Jannicke Mikkelsen: As the mission’s cinematographer, she’ll document the journey. Experienced in filming under extreme conditions, she’s recorded polar flights and worked on several projects in remote locations.
- Rabea Rogge: Rogge is the mission pilot. For her Ph.D. in Norway, she focuses on polar robotics research. She’s led satellite missions and worked with advanced technologies in Arctic environments.
- Eric Philips. A medical doctor and mission specialist, he brings years of experience from expeditions to both poles. He also has a strong background in polar guiding organizations.
The crew has undergone intense training for eight months. This included microgravity simulations, lifesaving techniques, first aid, and tests for living in confined spaces. They even spent time in the Alaskan wilderness to adapt to extreme conditions.
Three to Five Days
The crew members of the Fram2 mission wearing a spacesuit.
SpaceX’s Resilience will transport the four crew members. The spacecraft has previously completed three missions: Crew-1, Inspiration4, and Polaris Dawn. On the Fram2 mission, Resilience will be equipped with the Cupola module, a glass dome that provides panoramic views of the polar regions.
Fram2 crew members will conduct scientific research on atmospheric phenomena during their three- to five-day itinerary. They’ll also collaborate with SpaceX on studies for future long-duration spaceflights.
The mission includes 22 science experiments. Among them is SpaceXray, which will be the first X-rays taken of humans in microgravity. Meanwhile, the Egress Study will evaluate the crew’s ability to exit the spacecraft after splashdown and secure it without assistance from rescue teams.
Images | NASA | SpaceX
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