On April 1, 2025, at 01:46 UTC, SpaceX launched the Fram2 mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first human spaceflight to enter a polar retrograde orbit, passing directly over both Earth's North and South Poles. The mission concluded with a Pacific Ocean splashdown off the coast of California on April 4, 2025, at 16:19 UTC.

The Fram2 mission was led and financed by Chun Wang, a Chinese-born Maltese entrepreneur and cryptocurrency investor. Wang is the founder of f2pool and stakefish, among the largest Bitcoin mining pools and Ethereum staking providers. Joining him were Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge, and Australian polar guide Eric Philips. This diverse international crew conducted 22 scientific experiments during their nearly four-day mission, including the first medical X-rays in space and studies on the effects of microgravity on the human body.

The mission's name, Fram2, honors the Norwegian ship "Fram," used in Arctic and Antarctic explorations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Crew Dragon spacecraft was equipped with a domed window, offering panoramic views of the polar regions. Despite initial space sickness, the crew conducted medical X-rays and 24 other scientific experiments. Their mission even carried a piece of the original vessel.

The Fram2 mission highlights the growing role of private entities in space exploration. It demonstrates the feasibility of private funding and operation of complex space missions, potentially paving the way for more non-governmental space endeavors. The mission also emphasizes international collaboration, with a diverse crew representing multiple countries.

The success of the Fram2 mission underscores the expanding role of private space travel and its scientific potential. As private companies continue to push the boundaries of space exploration, missions like Fram2 pave the way for future endeavors that may one day take humans beyond Earth's orbit.