SpaceX is poised to make history with the first-ever manned mission over Earth’s poles, a groundbreaking endeavor in polar exploration. The mission, named “Fram2” after a famed 19th-century polar expedition schooner, was announced on Tuesday and is set to take flight later this year. The mission will be commanded by Chun Wang, a prominent crypto entrepreneur and Bitcoin pioneer, who purchased the mission for an undisclosed sum.
The Fram2 mission, expected to last between three to five days, represents a significant milestone in the rapidly growing private space tourism industry. Wang, who founded the cryptocurrency ventures f2pool and stakefish, will be accompanied by three esteemed polar experts: Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge, and Australian polar adventurer Eric Philips.
In a statement posted on X, Wang highlighted the uniqueness of the mission, stating, “From mission proposal, planning, trajectory design, to crew selection, everything has been done by the customer.” He added, “A new chapter in space exploration is unfolding before our eyes.”
The mission’s ambitious goal of flying over Earth’s poles presents unique challenges due to the planet’s rotation, which requires more power to reach the poles, and the presence of increased radiation in these regions. “Satellites have flown over the poles, but due to the Earth’s rotation, reaching them can take more power, while radiation can also be an issue,” explained astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.
The highest inclination achieved by human spaceflight to date has been the Soviet Vostok 6 mission, which reached 65°, according to the Fram2 mission website. Notably, the poles are not visible from the International Space Station, further emphasizing the mission’s significance.
The Fram2 mission will utilize a SpaceX Dragon capsule, a state-of-the-art spacecraft owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The capsule will be equipped with an observation dome, allowing the crew to conduct groundbreaking research at an altitude of between 425km and 450km above Earth.
Among the scientific objectives of the mission are taking the first-ever X-ray images in space and studying an aurora-like light phenomenon, which could provide valuable insights into the Earth’s magnetic fields and polar regions.
This mission marks another bold step forward for SpaceX, which has been at the forefront of commercial space exploration and private space tourism. As the Fram2 mission prepares to embark on this historic journey, it underscores the ever-expanding possibilities of space exploration and the increasing role of private ventures in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
