On April 1, 2025, at 9:46 p.m. EDT, SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on the Fram2 mission—the first human spaceflight to achieve a polar orbit, traversing both of Earth's poles. This historic mission was privately funded and commanded by Maltese investor Chun Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur and co-founder of F2Pool, a prominent Bitcoin mining pool.

The Fram2 crew comprised Norwegian film director Jannicke Mikkelsen, German robotics researcher and polar scientist Rabea Rogge, and Australian adventurer Eric Philips. Over the course of approximately three and a half days, the team conducted 22 scientific experiments focusing on the effects of microgravity on the human body. The mission concluded with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Oceanside, California, on April 4, 2025.

Mission Objectives and Scientific Experiments

The primary goal of the Fram2 mission was to advance understanding of human health and performance in space, particularly for future long-duration missions. Key experiments included:

• First Human X-ray Images in Space: Capturing X-ray images to study bone density and detect potential health issues arising from prolonged exposure to microgravity.

• Blood Flow Restriction Exercise: Investigating methods to preserve muscle and bone mass in microgravity environments.

• Mushroom Cultivation in Microgravity: Exploring the feasibility of growing mushrooms as a potential food source for long-duration space missions.

• Sleep and Stress Patterns: Monitoring crew members' sleep and stress levels using wearable technology to understand the psychological impacts of space travel.

• Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Assessing metabolic changes in space by tracking glucose levels.

• Women's Hormonal Health: Studying the effects of space travel on female hormonal cycles.

• Motion Sickness and Brain Imaging: Evaluating motion sickness and conducting brain imaging immediately after landing using a portable MRI.

Additionally, the crew observed atmospheric phenomena similar to STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), characterized by green fragments and mauve ribbons of continuous emissions at altitudes of 400–500 km.

Crew Members

• Chun Wang: Born in Tianjin, China, Wang is a cryptocurrency investor and entrepreneur. He co-founded F2Pool, one of the first Bitcoin mining pools in China. Wang became a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2017 and Malta in 2023, making him the first Maltese citizen to travel to space.

• Jannicke Mikkelsen: A Norwegian film director known for her work in 3D and virtual reality filmmaking. Mikkelsen has a background in cinematography and has worked on various international projects.

• Rabea Rogge: A German electrical engineer, robotic researcher, and polar scientist. She obtained her master's degree in electrical engineering at ETH Zurich and is pursuing a PhD at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Rogge is the first German woman to travel to space.

• Eric Philips: An Australian adventurer and polar explorer with over 30 polar expeditions. Philips has extensive experience in extreme environments, making him well-suited for the mission's challenges.

Historical Significance

The mission's name, Fram2, pays homage to the late 19th-century Norwegian seafaring ship "Fram," which explored the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The polar orbit allowed the crew to observe Earth's polar regions directly, a first in human spaceflight. This trajectory required additional energy due to the lack of a natural boost from Earth's rotation, making the mission's success a significant technical achievement.

Social and Societal Implications

The success of the Fram2 mission underscores the growing role of private entities in space exploration, highlighting the potential for non-governmental organizations and individuals to contribute significantly to scientific research and exploration. The mission also emphasizes the importance of international collaboration, with a diverse crew representing multiple countries.

As private space missions become more prevalent, the Fram2 mission serves as a testament to the expanding frontiers of human spaceflight and the collaborative efforts that make such endeavors possible.