SpaceX has completed a static fire test of its Falcon 9 rocket in preparation for the Fram2 mission, set to launch on Monday, March 31. The four-person crew will make history by flying in a polar orbit, marking the first time astronauts have done so.
The crew, led by Malta resident Chun Wang, includes Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, Pilot Rabea Rogge, and Mission Specialist Eric Philips. They will conduct a range of science experiments, including sleep research, glucose monitoring, and a women’s health study.
One of the mission’s goals is to capture and study the Earth’s polar regions from a low Earth orbit vantage point. The crew will also be the first to grow mushrooms in space as part of the Mission MushVroom experiment.
Awards-winning Norwegian cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen will lead the imaging effort, capturing footage of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis using state-of-the-art cameras and equipment. She has spent months planning every shot from space using a virtual mockup of the capsule.
The crew has undergone rigorous training, including an outdoor wilderness expedition in Alaska, and is set to hold a public briefing on Friday, March 28, to discuss their mission. The launch will mark a new era in human exploration of the polar regions, with the crew aiming to show how technology helps push the boundaries of our understanding of Earth and space.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/03/28/fram2-astronauts-arrive-in-florida-ahead-of-polar-spaceflight