SpaceX is set to launch its latest mission, taking a cryptocurrency billionaire and three guests on a historic trip that will orbit directly above Earth’s poles. The 4.5-hour launch window opens at 9:46 p.m. ET.
If successful, this mission will mark the first time a human spaceflight has traveled over Cuba and Panama, tracing a path previously unattempted by any spacecraft. After liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket booster will detach from the crew capsule and head for landing on a seafaring barge. The upper part of the rocket, still attached to the Crew Dragon capsule, will fire its engine to propel the crew to orbital speeds.
The mission is expected to take three to five days, during which time the crew will reach orbital speeds of over 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). After orbit, they will splash down off the coast of California. SpaceX’s vice president of launch, Kiko Dontchev, said that weather conditions will be closely monitored and that a few extra days on the pad may be necessary if needed.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/science/live-news/spacex-launch-fram2-mission-03-31-25/index.html