SpaceX targets March 31 for first crewed polar orbit mission
What's the story
SpaceX is preparing for an unprecedented mission, the Fram2, which will take four astronauts on a journey to Earth's polar regions.
The launch is set for March 31 and will be carried out using a Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon capsule.
The spacecraft will be launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a three-hour window opening at 11:20pm ET (April 1, 8:50am IST).
Crew details
Meet the international crew
The Fram2 mission will be commanded by an international team including Mission Commander Chun Wang (Malta), Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen (Norway), Mission Pilot Rabea Rogge (Germany), and Mission Medical Officer Eric Philips (Australia).
Wang personally selected the crew and said he was proud to continue the legacy of the Fram name in commercial space exploration.
The mission's name pays homage to the original Norwegian ship "Fram," renowned for its polar explorations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Orbital details
Fram2 mission's unique orbital path
The Fram2 mission will achieve a 90-degree circularized orbit, the steepest orbital inclination of any human mission to date.
This is much higher than the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits at some 51.6 degrees.
The Fram2 crew plans to conduct 22 different research experiments during their four-day mission.
They will film the aurora borealis and attempt to grow oyster mushrooms in orbit.
Medical studies
Pioneering biomedical research in space
Along with their agricultural experiment, the Fram2 crew will also conduct a number of biomedical research studies in orbit.
These include taking the first X-ray in space, using a mobile MRI device, and studying how space affects female reproductive hormones.
This mission could offer invaluable insights into human health and biology under the unique conditions of outer space.