In a game-changing moment for commercial spaceflight and scientific exploration, SpaceX is preparing to launch a groundbreaking mission that will fly directly over Earth’s polar regions—a feat never before accomplished by a human space mission. Scheduled for Monday evening at 9:46 p.m. ET (0146 GMT), the mission, dubbed Fram2, represents a unique blend of private innovation, extreme expedition experience, and ambitious scientific experimentation that could pave the way for long-duration voyages to Mars and beyond.

The launch will take place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Crew Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, a launch vehicle that has become essential for both crewed and cargo missions. Fram2 marks not only a bold technological adventure, but also a cultural and symbolic nod to the era of polar exploration, invoking the legacy of the original Norwegian ship, the “Fram,” built in the 19th century for Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

Fram2 is not just a new orbital trajectory: it is also a deeply symbolic mission that draws parallels between historic polar exploration and the future of humanity beyond Earth.

“With the same pioneering spirit as the first polar explorers, we aim to bring back new data and knowledge to advance the long-term goals of space exploration,” said Chun Wang, mission commander and a Maltese adventurer with a technology-focused background.

Wang is no stranger to innovative projects. Co-founder of cryptocurrency mining companies f2pool and skatefish, he brings a decentralized and data-driven philosophy to the mission. The crew selection also reflects an interdisciplinary approach that favors diversity of skills and backgrounds, a growing trend in private spaceflight.

Joining Wang on board Fram2 are: Norwegian filmmaker and vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, who will bring a visual narrative dimension to the mission; German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge, the mission pilot, who will participate in technological experiments aboard the capsule; and Australian polar explorer and physician Eric Philps, who will provide life support expertise and oversee medical experiments during and after the mission.

Together, they form a team particularly equipped for a particularly ambitious journey.

Beyond its spectacular trajectory, Fram2 is a floating laboratory, equipped with a series of scientific experiments designed to provide insight into biological adaptation, radiation exposure, and human endurance.

Among the most anticipated studies: The first X-ray ever taken in space: This experiment could inform future medical imaging and diagnostic methods during long-duration missions where access to traditional equipment is limited. Mushroom cultivation in microgravity: Mushrooms are attracting growing interest in the field of space agriculture, not only for food production but also for their ability to decompose waste and potentially generate building materials (think mycelium-based structures on Mars).

These experiments reflect a broader trend in space science: the move toward self-sustaining ecosystems and closed-loop life support systems, essential for interplanetary travel.

As the International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth on a low-inclination trajectory that avoids the poles, Fram2’s mission profile flies directly over the North and South Poles, providing a unique vantage point and a testbed for new orbital dynamics.

This type of orbit, called a polar orbit, is typically used by Earth observation satellites, but has never been used for human spaceflight, with the exception of the Apollo lunar missions, which had slightly higher inclinations but still avoided a direct polar flyby.

Fram2 therefore represents not only a logistical and technical challenge, but also a major geopolitical and navigational milestone. Navigating above the poles involves managing weaker GPS signals, higher radiation levels, and complex reentry trajectories—all of which make this mission a valuable data-gathering opportunity for space agencies and private companies alike.

The crew underwent eight months of intensive training, including a wilderness survival expedition in Alaska, where they simulated the experience of living in confined spaces under extreme environmental conditions.

This was no mere twist of fate: crew cohesion and psychological resilience are critical factors for mission success, especially for privately funded missions, where operational support is more limited than for government missions. The Alaska simulation gave the crew experience in stress communication, reduced mobility, and resource management—skills that would prove crucial throughout their four-day orbital voyage.

A particularly intriguing element of Fram2 is what happens after landing.

The crew will attempt to exit the capsule unassisted, without assistance from ground personnel or immediate medical intervention. This seemingly innocuous act is actually a major experiment in post-flight human performance.

Traditionally, astronauts returning from space are greeted and assisted immediately due to the disorientation, muscle weakness, and balance issues caused by microgravity. By observing the ability of private astronauts to recover and perform basic tasks on their own, scientists hope to better understand how the human body recovers after spaceflight—a crucial step for future missions to Mars, where recovery will take place far from Earth-based medical teams.

Fram2 is the sixth private astronaut mission led by SpaceX and the third free-flight mission outside the ISS after Inspiration4 (2021) and Polaris Dawn. Like its predecessors, Fram2 represents more than just a technological breakthrough; it’s a revolution in how we think about access to, ownership of, and purpose in space.

It’s worth noting that these free-flight missions are the result of an evolving partnership between SpaceX and wealthy visionaries like billionaire Jared Isaacman, who previously funded Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn. Isaacman, appointed by President Donald Trump to lead NASA, is emblematic of the shifting balance between public and private control of space exploration.

With Fram2, SpaceX continues to build the infrastructure, reputation, and track record necessary to support human spaceflight as a sustainable business, not just a government-run enterprise.

Fram2 is more than a daring flight over the poles: it is a prototype mission for the kind of scientific and operational work that must be done before multi-year missions to Mars can safely proceed.

Whether it’s testing human recovery after flight, testing medical tools in microgravity, or experimenting with sustainable food sources, mission science could have a direct impact on how we design and support future missions to Mars or even lunar habitats.

And with a crew of explorers, artists, and scientists from around the world, Fram2 is a symbol of where space travel is headed: collaborative, private-public, multicultural, and purpose-driven.

As we enter a new era of space exploration, Fram2 reminds us that while the frontier has changed—from icy seas to orbiting Earth’s poles—the spirit of exploration is timeless.

Stay tuned for live coverage and mission updates from Kennedy Space Center as SpaceX prepares to take another bold leap into the future of spaceflight.