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SpaceX Launches Historic Fram2 Mission, Sending First Human Spaceflight to Polar Orbit
Space exploration trailblazer SpaceX has achieved another milestone, successfully launching the first human spaceflight designed to orbit Earth via its poles. The groundbreaking Fram2 mission, a privately funded endeavor, commenced its journey atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch occurred on March 31 at 9:46 p.m. EDT (0146 GMT on April 1), dispatching the Crew Dragon capsule “Resilience” and its crew of four spaceflight novices into a distinctive polar orbit.
Meet the Fram2 Crew
The pioneering Fram2 crew is under the command of Chun Wang from Malta. He is accompanied by vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway, pilot Rabea Rogge from Germany, and Eric Phillips, an Australian medical officer and mission specialist.
Launch and Booster Landing Details
Approximately two and a half minutes following liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster ceased operation of its nine Merlin engines. Subsequently, it separated from the upper stage and initiated a deceleration maneuver. This burn positioned the booster for a controlled landing on SpaceX’s “A Shortfall of Gravitas” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The landing was executed flawlessly, occurring roughly five and a half minutes post-launch, as projected.
Resilience Achieves Polar Orbit
The Falcon 9’s second stage proceeded to propel Resilience into low Earth orbit. Deployment of the capsule occurred just under ten minutes after the initial launch. The crew is now embarking on a multi-day mission, expected to last three to five days, orbiting over Earth’s polar regions. This unique trajectory will afford them unprecedented views of these remote and captivating locations, unseen by human eyes from space before.
Mission Control’s Congratulations
Shortly after successful spacecraft separation, Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, extended congratulations to the Fram2 crew from mission control.
“Dragon, on behalf of the Falcon team, we’re honored to deliver you safely to your polar orbit,” Gerstenmaier conveyed.
He further added, “Enjoy the polar vistas. Send us some images; our thoughts are with you as you traverse the poles. Have a spectacular flight!”
Fram2 Mission Objectives and Experiments
The Fram2 mission name pays homage to the historic Norwegian vessel “Fram” of the late 19th century. This ship was renowned for its polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic at the dawn of the 20th century. “Fram,” in Norwegian, signifies “forward” or “onward,” encapsulating the spirit of exploration.
Mirroring its namesake, Fram2 is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of exploration. The mission is carrying out a comprehensive suite of 22 experiments, encompassing diverse scientific and technological investigations. Noteworthy experiments include:
- The first attempt to cultivate mushrooms in the space environment.
- Deployment of a device to capture inaugural on-orbit X-ray images of the human body.
- Studies into the impacts of microgravity on the human musculoskeletal system during space travel.
SpaceX’s Growing Human Spaceflight Portfolio
Fram2 marks SpaceX’s 17th human space mission in total and its sixth mission specifically for private clientele. The “Resilience” capsule itself boasts an impressive flight history, now undertaking its fourth human spaceflight. Previously, Resilience supported:
- Crew-1: SpaceX’s first operational astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.
- Inspiration4: The inaugural all-civilian spaceflight on SpaceX Dragon.
- Polaris Dawn: The company’s preceding private crew launch to Earth orbit.
Rapid Launch Cadence for SpaceX
The Fram2 launch follows SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission to the ISS for NASA by a mere two weeks and three days, representing the shortest interval between SpaceX astronaut launches to date, demonstrating an accelerating pace in their human spaceflight operations.
Mission Duration and Landing
The Fram2 mission is anticipated to span three to five days, culminating in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This will be a first for a SpaceX astronaut mission, as previous crewed flights have concluded with landings off Florida’s coast. SpaceX is transitioning landing sites to the West Coast to proactively mitigate potential risks associated with Dragon debris during reentry over populated areas.
Post-Landing Research
A final, unique research component will be executed upon landing. The crew will intentionally forgo standard post-spaceflight medical and mobility support as their bodies readjust to Earth’s gravity. This presents an opportunity to study the immediate effects of gravity readaptation following a polar orbit mission.