SpaceX announces Fram2, the first-ever human spaceflight mission over Earth’s Polar Regions

Written By KYNNMASTER 123

On August 12, 2024, SpaceX announced its intentions to launch the first-ever human spaceflight mission over the Earth's Polar Regions named Fram2. According to SpaceX, the mission will launch as early as this year, [or not earlier than (NET) late 2024] flying on a Dragon 2 spacecraft, launched by the Falcon 9 rocket.

The Dragon 2 spacecraft that it is planned to ride on is the Endurance spacecraft, while the mission is named after the polar expedition ship called Fram. (which is according to Wikipedia, both names are references to past polar expeditions)

Meet the Crew:

Position Crew
Mission Commander Chun Wang
First spaceflight
Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen
First spaceflight
Pilot Eric Philips
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist Rabea Rogge
First spaceflight

Mission Commander: Chun Wang (from Malta)

  • Chun Wang is the mission commander and is the one funding this mission.

  • He is a Chinese-born Maltese cryptocurrency inventor and entrepreneur who co-founded F2Pool and Stakefish, one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools and Ethereum staking providers globally.

Vehicle Commander: Jannicke Mikkelsen (from Norway)

  • Jannicke Mikkelsen is the vehicle commander of this mission.

  • She is a film director and cinematographer living in Svalbard. She specializes in fringe technology, creating next-generation technology for movies in remote and hazardous environments such as the Arctic, ocean, aviation, and space.

Vehicle Pilot: Eric Philips (from Australia)

  • Eric Philips is the vehicle pilot of this mission.

  • He is an Australian professional polar adventurer and guide, who has completed various ski expeditions to the North and South Poles. He is a co-founder of the International Polar Guides Association and co-creator of the Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme.

Mission Specialist: Rabea Rogge (from Germany)

  • Rabea Rogge is the mission specialist for this mission.

  • She is a robotics researcher from Berlin, currently pursuing her PhD in Norway. She has always been fascinated by extreme environments, studying them to understand the limits of our world — and to push beyond them. Her work includes leading a satellite mission and researching ocean robotics in the Arctic, reflecting her commitment to advancing technology in both polar regions and space.

Mission Information (as of now):


  • The Fram2 mission will get into a 90° polar orbit, launching from either Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) or Launch Complex 40 (LC-40). This will be the highest inclination ever in human spaceflight, reaching above the Earth’s poles for the first time.



  • The mission will use the Dragon 2 spacecraft with its cupola configuration, just like the one on the Inspiration4 mission. This will allow the spacecraft to provide spectacular views and allow for external observations outside the spacecraft.


  • Their mission will last for 3-to-5-days, observing Earth’s polar regions from 425-450 km above the surface. They will also conduct various in-space observations such as understanding unusual light emissions resembling auroras.



  • In collaboration with SpaceX, they will also conduct research on the effects of spaceflight on the human body. They also plan to capture the first human x-ray images in space, using Just-in-Time training tools, and studying behavioral health while in space. All of these will help prepare humanity for future long-duration spaceflight.



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This is KYNNMASTER 123 for The Weekly Spaceman, see you in the next one! 😊

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KYNNMASTER 123
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