The first human spaceflight that will fly over the Earth's polar regions is now set, with Fram2 looking to achieve the novel mission dedicated to observing its proximity from space. The main goal of the mission is observation, and it will also push for new kinds of studies on the planet's polar regions, while also helping SpaceX understand more of how spaceflight affects humans.
Fram2 Set to Ride SpaceX's Crew Dragon to Fly Over Polar Regions
(Photo : SpaceX)
SpaceX's latest announcement introduces the Fram2, a new mission headed by Maltese entrepreneur, Chun Wang, and is looking to make history as the "first human spaceflight to fly over Earth's polar regions." The team under the Fram2 mission would board SpaceX's Crew Dragon which would be joined by the Falcon 9, bringing this new team to the polar orbit.
Wang would be accompanied by three other civilians including vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, pilot Eric Phillips from Australia, and mission specialist Rabea Rogge from Germany.
The mission will last about three to five days, launching to around an altitude of 425 to 450 kilometers from the Earth's surface, and will be the first-ever visit to space by all of its crewmembers.
Earth's Polar Regions: Fram2 Paves the Cosmic Way of Studies
Fram2 was regarded to be the first that will focus on observing the Earth's polar regions, and it aims to expand more on these types of missions. The team would also focus on highlighting aurora-like light emissions in space found at the same altitude known as Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement or STEVE.
The team would also help SpaceX further understand how spaceflight affects human physiology and would be the first to capture human X-rays in space. SpaceX targets a late 2024 launch for the Fram2 mission.
SpaceX's Civilian and Private Spaceflights
One of the most popular and successful private space companies in the world now is SpaceX, with the company seeing significant contracts and partnerships on its ride-sharing offers for those who can pay.
Anyone who wishes to venture into space can do so in this day and age, with SpaceX among those who offer these services but have mostly focused on missions that look to raise awareness and help in learning more about how spaceflight affects humans.
That being said, there is already one hopeful astronaut who canceled its contract with SpaceX, with Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa severing its ties after almost six years of delay on the dearMoon project, meant to use the Starship rocket.
SpaceX still sees massive belief and support from their other partners, particularly with the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission led by Jared Isaacman, the private astronaut who will embark on his second space journey, collaborating with Musk's space company yet again.
The Fram2 is set to make history with its upcoming mission, with SpaceX yet again being the company of choice for spaceflight, the first to fly researchers over Earth's polar regions.
