The Very First Crewed Spaceflight to Polar Orbit Has Launched...

SpaceX

Fram2 Mission (News Release)

On Monday, March 31 at 9:46 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Fram2 to a polar orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Mission Objectives

During their multi-day mission, Dragon and the crew will explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over Earth’s polar regions for the first time. They will also conduct 22 types of research designed to help advance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration and understanding of human health in space. Throughout Fram2’s time on-orbit, the crew are planning to take the first x-ray in space, perform exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass, and grow mushrooms in microgravity.

Additionally, after safely returning to Earth, the crew plans to exit from the Dragon spacecraft without additional medical and operational assistance, helping researchers characterize the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short and long durations in space.

The Crew

This is the first human spaceflight for Mission Commander Chun Wang, Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Eric Philips.

Source: SpaceX

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SpaceX


SpaceX

For the first time in history, a human spaceflight mission is orbiting over Antartica to begin their polar orbit mission. Read more about the four person crew who is onboard the Fram2 mission as they embark on their 3.5-5 day journey.

Article: https://t.co/VMVnUbdrtd pic.twitter.com/O9WbEXV8Qf

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) April 1, 2025

We are about to see PICTURES of Antarctica from space by Fram2.

It has never been done by humans. The closest latitude the ISS gets to Antarctica is the South Georgia Islands.

This @astro_Pettit photo is the best most astronauts have seen of it.

Historic precedence incoming. https://t.co/aNXb4LxSqn pic.twitter.com/NQE5OWHRUg

— A. Pettit (@PettitFrontier) April 1, 2025