Commercial mission plans to observe Earth’s poles from low-Earth orbit for the first time and complete 22 research experiments, among other objectives.
The Fram2 astronauts, (from left) Rabea Rogge, Eric Phillips, Chun Wang, and Jannicke Mikkelsen, don spacesuits as they gear up for their historic polar spaceflight. [Courtesy: Fram2]
Key Takeaways:
The Fram2 mission, purchased by crypto entrepreneur Chun Wang from SpaceX, is set to be the first human spaceflight to orbit directly over Earth's poles, launching next week from Kennedy Space Center.
The four-person international crew will achieve the highest inclination orbit (90 degrees) for a crewed spacecraft, observing Earth's polar regions and studying phenomena like Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancements (STEVE).
Beyond polar observation, the mission will conduct 22 experiments focused on advancing long-duration space exploration, including growing mushrooms in microgravity and taking the first X-rays in space.
Correction: A Qatar Executive Gulfstream G650ER set the record for polar circumnavigation in 46 hours and 40 minutes, rather than 46 minutes and 40 seconds as a previous version of this article stated.
Next week, a crew of private astronauts is expected to go where no one has gone before.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
