Historic Polar Orbit Mission Begins
SpaceX launched the first human spaceflight to traverse Earth’s polar regions on Monday, marking a milestone in privately funded orbital missions. The four-person crew, aboard the Fram2 mission—named after the 19th-century Norwegian polar exploration ship—will conduct experiments ranging from capturing the first X-ray in space to cultivating mushrooms in microgravity. The research could provide critical insights for future deep-space missions, including eventual travel to Mars.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:46 p.m. EDT, carrying a multinational crew on an unprecedented southward trajectory over the Atlantic. The spacecraft completed its initial leg to the South Pole in just 30 minutes and will orbit the Earth approximately every 90 minutes.
A Diverse Crew with a Pioneering Vision
Leading the mission is Chun Wang, a Chinese-born Maltese entrepreneur and Bitcoin investor, who arranged the launch to coincide with his 1,000th flight—a personal milestone in his quest to visit every country. Wang, who has previously explored the polar regions on Earth, described the mission as an opportunity to “push boundaries and share knowledge.”
Joining him is Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, who previously circumnavigated the globe via the poles in a 2019 record-setting flight commemorating the Apollo 11 Moon landing. The crew also includes German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge and Australian polar explorer Eric Philips, serving as mission pilot and medical officer, respectively.
The team underwent eight months of rigorous training, including an Alaskan wilderness expedition to simulate the challenges of confined living in extreme environments.
Scientific and Environmental Objectives
Polar orbits are particularly valuable for Earth observation, enabling satellites to monitor the entire planet daily. Geir Kløver, director of Oslo’s Fram Museum—home to the original polar exploration ship—expressed hope that the mission would raise awareness of climate change and the accelerating melt of polar ice caps.
Upon their return, the crew will attempt to exit the spacecraft unaided as part of a study assessing post-spaceflight physical capabilities.
“With the same pioneering spirit as early polar explorers, we aim to bring back new data to advance the long-term goals of space exploration,” Wang said before liftoff.
The mission, expected to last four days, represents a new chapter in both private spaceflight and polar research—bridging historical exploration with cutting-edge science.