Liftoff: Fram2 Mission to Earth's Poles | SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA Kennedy
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 9:46 p.m. Eastern Time [ET], March 31, 2025, sending Fram2's Crew Dragon spacecraft towards a polar orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will become the first humans to view the Earth’s polar regions from space, participate in a Ham Radio contest, and record the sounds of Dragon, among other activities. Crew member Rabea Rogge will become the first female German astronaut. Moreover, crew member Jannicke Mikkelsen will become the first Norwegian astronaut and the first European astronaut to command a spacecraft.
A live webcast of this mission is underway.
The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew Crew-1 to and from the International Space Station, Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit, and Polaris Dawn, the first commercial mission to conduct an extravehicular activity from Dragon. This will be the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission. It previously launched Crew-9, RRT-1, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Mission Objectives
During their multi-day mission, Dragon and the crew will explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over Earth’s polar regions for the first time. They will also conduct 22 research studies designed to help advance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration and understanding of human health in space. Throughout Fram2’s time on-orbit, the crew are planning to take the first x-ray in space, perform exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass, and grow mushrooms in microgravity. Additionally, after safely returning to Earth, the crew plans to exit from the Dragon spacecraft without additional medical and operational assistance, helping researchers characterize the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short and long durations in space.
During their multi-day mission, Dragon and the crew will explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over Earth’s polar regions for the first time. They will also conduct 22 research studies designed to help advance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration and understanding of human health in space. Throughout Fram2’s time on-orbit, the crew are planning to take the first x-ray in space, perform exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass, and grow mushrooms in microgravity. Additionally, after safely returning to Earth, the crew plans to exit from the Dragon spacecraft without additional medical and operational assistance, helping researchers characterize the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short and long durations in space.
The Crew
This will be the first human spaceflight for Mission Commander Chun Wang (Malta), Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen (Norway), Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge (Germany), plus Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Eric Philips (Australia).
This will be the first human spaceflight for Mission Commander Chun Wang (Malta), Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen (Norway), Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge (Germany), plus Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Eric Philips (Australia).
Learn more about the Fram2 Mission and its crew:
Video Credit: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)
Duration: 40 seconds
Release Date: March 31, 2025
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