SpaceX is set to launch a groundbreaking human spaceflight mission, Fram2, which will be the first to fly over Earth's polar regions and explore the planet from a polar orbit. Scheduled to launch as early as late 2024 from Florida, the mission will be commanded by entrepreneur and adventurer Chun Wang from Malta.
Chun Wang will command the Fram2 private astronaut mission launching on a Crew Dragon as soon as late 2024. Credit: SpaceX
Fram2 will be commanded by Chun Wang, which SpaceX’s statement identified as only an “entrepreneur and adventurer from Malta.” Wang has worked in the cryptocurrency field for more than a decade, founding the bitcoin mining company F2pool and Stakefish, a validator for various crypto protocols. Fram2 will also carry a crew of international adventurers, including Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, Eric Philips from Australia, and Rabea Rogge from Germany, on a 3-to-5-day journey to observe Earth's polar regions from an altitude of 425-450 km and at an inclination of 90°. The crew will study unusual light emissions resembling auroras, including green fragments and mauve ribbons of continuous emissions, through Dragon's cupola.
In addition to its exploratory goals, the mission will conduct various research projects to better understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body. These include capturing the first human x-ray images in space, developing Just-in-Time training tools, and studying the effects of spaceflight on behavioral health. This research will help prepare humanity for future long-duration spaceflight.
The mission is named after the ship that helped explorers first reach Earth's Arctic and Antarctic regions and aims to inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity in the public while highlighting the potential of technology to push the boundaries of exploration.
As Chun Wang, the mission commander, notes, "This is a day I've been looking forward to for two-and-a-half years. Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything." Wang reflects on the significance of this mission, citing the pioneering work of Inspiration4 and the Polaris Program, which have paved the way for private individuals to charter spacecraft and design their own missions. Fram2 mission will reportedly use Endurance, with the same cupola that was flown on the Inspiration4 mission in 2021.
Fram2 represents a new chapter in space exploration, where private individuals and companies are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. As Wang remarks, "I increasingly believe that someday we will reach Mars — and it may be a person, or a company, not a nation, who gets there."
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