Cape Canaveral, Florida: SpaceX successfully launched a private astronaut crew on Monday, embarking on a historic mission to orbit Earth from pole to pole—a trajectory never before undertaken by humans. The mission, named Fram2, is led by Maltese investor Chun Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur known for founding a bitcoin mining company.
Liftoff of Fram2 and the @framonauts! pic.twitter.com/XBL5juCnHQ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 1, 2025
Wang, the primary financier and commander of the mission, named Fram2 as a nod to the Norwegian exploration ship “Fram,” which played a crucial role in Arctic expeditions at the turn of the 20th century. He is joined by three associates aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which lifted off at 9:47 p.m. EDT (0147 GMT Tuesday) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is expected to last between three to five days, during which the crew will conduct 22 research experiments focused primarily on the effects of spaceflight and microgravity on the human body.
Ahead of the launch, the crew was transported to the launchpad in a convoy of Tesla vehicles—produced by Elon Musk’s other company—escorted by police through the roads of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Their journey to the launch site coincided with a separate SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch for the Starlink satellite network.
“We’re gonna watch a rocket launch while on our way to a rocket launch,” Wang posted on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, alongside a video capturing the Falcon 9’s ascent.
We’re gonna watch a rocket launch while on our way to a rocket launch. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/G1IfJdGt1f
— Chun (@satofishi) March 31, 2025
Fram2 marks SpaceX’s sixth private astronaut flight, reinforcing the company’s dominance in the commercial human spaceflight sector. This mission also highlights Musk’s growing influence, not only as SpaceX CEO but also as a key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, a role that has granted him significant sway over various U.S. policy decisions.
The launch represents the 16th crewed mission using the reusable Crew Dragon spacecraft, which was originally developed with NASA funding to provide a reliable transport system for astronauts traveling to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Over the years, SpaceX has solidified its leadership in the private orbital spaceflight market, a domain where Crew Dragon remains the only privately built spacecraft conducting routine missions. In contrast, Boeing’s Starliner capsule has faced significant developmental delays.
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Although early private spaceflight missions primarily attracted wealthy tourists, the industry has shifted toward national space agencies seeking to advance their human spaceflight programs. With a Crew Dragon seat costing approximately $55 million, organizations such as Axiom Space have facilitated missions for government-backed astronauts. However, the Fram2 mission is unique in its entirely private composition, with no governmental sponsorship.
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Joining Wang on the mission are Norwegian film director Jannicke Mikkelsen, known for her work in virtual reality cinematography; German robotics researcher and polar scientist Rabea Rogge; and Australian adventurer Eric Philips, an experienced explorer renowned for his extreme skiing expeditions in the polar regions. Together, they will push the boundaries of private spaceflight on this unprecedented polar orbit mission.
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