SpaceX is launching a four-day mission that will send humans over Earth’s poles for the first time ever. The privately funded Fram2 mission, set to launch on March 31, has several goals and experiments in store. Crew members will be the first people to observe the polar regions from low Earth orbit and work on projects designed to advance our understanding of long-duration spaceflight.
The mission is named after a Norwegian exploratory vessel that traveled to the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Commander Chun Wang said, “With the same pioneering spirit as early polar explorers, we aim to bring back new data and knowledge to advance the long-term goals of space exploration.”
Fram2 will conduct 22 research experiments, including:
– The first X-ray images of humans in space (SpaceXray)
– Studying astronauts’ ability to carry out tasks like landing vehicles in a safe configuration (Egress)
– Examining how astronauts maintain muscle and bone health on long space missions (Blood Flow Restriction)
– Growing mushrooms in space for potential food sources on Mars missions (Mission MushVroom)
Other experiments include studying sleep patterns, brain anatomy, glucose regulation, and the impact of microgravity and space radiation on female reproductive hormones.
The four-person crew will launch on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Resilience, marking its fourth liftoff. The mission aims to inform future missions and make space more accessible for everyone.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/x-rays-mushrooms-more-science-120000022.html