SpaceX recently made history by launching the Fram2 mission, the first of its kind, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:16 AM on April 1 (IST). The mission, utilising a Falcon rocket and Crew Dragon capsule, transported four astronauts on a groundbreaking journey over Earth’s poles. This marks the first time a crewed spaceflight has taken such a route. Funded and commanded by cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, the mission also includes vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen fromscience Norway, pilot Rabea Rogge from Germany, and medical officer and mission specialist Eric Phillips from Australia. Mikkelsen, a filmmaker, is known for her work in extreme environments like the Arctic and open seas. Rogge is an engineer and scientist with expertise in robotics and polar research, while Phillips is a seasoned polar explorer who has led expeditions to both the North and South Poles.
The crew is set to spend three to five days in orbit, conducting 22 scientific experiments focused on studying the polar regions from space, all while enjoying their time above Earth. They are expected to make a splashdown return to Earth.
You might be wondering why this mission is the first human spaceflight over the poles. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Historical Orbital Patterns
Historically, most crewed missions have followed equatorial or low-inclination orbits. The closest approach to a polar orbit before Fram2 was the Soviet Vostok 6 mission in 1963, which reached a 65-degree inclination.
2. Technical Challenges of Polar Orbits
Polar orbits require more energy than equatorial ones, as the launch needs to counter the Earth's rotational speed—about 1,670 km/h at the equator—which normally gives a boost to rockets heading east. Additionally, polar trajectories expose astronauts to higher levels of ionizing radiation because they pass through the Van Allen radiation belts and areas where the Earth's magnetic field channels charged particles from solar and cosmic sources.
3. Lack of Scientific or Strategic Need in Earlier Missions
Historically, crewed missions have concentrated on significant objectives like reaching the Moon (with the Apollo program) or establishing a permanent presence in space (like the ISS), which favored equatorial or low-inclination orbits. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and Soviet Union were more focused on symbolic victories such as lunar landings, rather than on polar missions, which didn’t match their geopolitical agendas. Observing the poles was already possible with satellites, so sending humans there wasn’t seen as necessary.
4. SpaceX’s Unique Position
The Fram2 mission stands out as a privately funded initiative led by crypto entrepreneur Chun Wang, distinguishing it from government-backed missions. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, the only privately constructed spacecraft that regularly conducts orbital flights, makes ambitious missions like this one possible. Its advanced design, including a 2,000-square-inch dome window (the cupola), allows astronauts to visually document the polar regions. Coupled with the capabilities of SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket, these missions have become more feasible and cost-effective. With a ticket costing around $55 million, private citizens like Wang can afford to participate.
5. Mission Design and Objectives
The Fram2 mission was specifically crafted to orbit the poles—an uncharted course for human missions. Named after the Norwegian ship Fram, famous for its exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic in the late 1800s, this mission aims to honor the spirit of polar exploration while carrying out 22 research experiments. These range from growing mushrooms in microgravity to studying the effects of spaceflight in a high-radiation environment on the human body. The crew's passion for polar exploration drove the mission’s unique flight path, allowing them to not only conduct significant research but also to document and showcase Earth’s polar regions, which aren't visible from the ISS or other crewed missions.