SpaceX successfully launched privately owned Fram2, the first crewed mission to orbit the Earth's North and South Poles, Monday evening from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The historic launch carries four civilians from different countries on a mission that will last up to five days.
The Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule lifted off at 9:46 p.m. ET after mission control called, “SpaceX Dragon, liftoff!”
“Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff!” shouted one of the flight directors, causing loud cheers and applause.
A few minutes later, mission control reported, “And now we've just seen MECO states separate,” and the Falcon rocket shut down its main engine.
“The Dragon capsule has separated from the Falcon 9 second stage,” SpaceX said in a statement.
The first stage of the launch vehicle, having used up most of its fuel, headed back to Earth, while the crew inside the Dragon capsule continued on their way into space.
Just over eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket landed on SpaceX's unmanned spacecraft, dubbed “A Shortfall of Gravitas,” as Dragon separated and entered a polar orbit. The crew launched a stuffed bear, their zero-gravity indicator, to watch it float inside the capsule in zero gravity.
The white nose cone on top of the Dragon capsule, which holds equipment for docking with the International Space Station, has opened up to reveal a large window known as the dome. Since the Fram2 crew will not be docking with the ISS, this window will provide a wide view during their journey through space.
“We are honored to have you safely in polar orbit,” the mission control team told the crew. “Enjoy the views of the poles, send us photos, and our hearts will be with you as you fly over the poles. Have a safe flight.”
“God bless Fram2. Yay!” added another mission controller. Splashdown is scheduled for Friday or Saturday in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California.
The Fram2 crew spent more than a year preparing for this mission. Less than an hour before liftoff, the Dragon's hatch was closed.
“All communications and spacesuit checks are complete, seats have been swapped, and the Fremonauts are ready to launch!” SpaceX wrote in a post on X with a photo of the crew.
The crew, currently in low Earth orbit for the next three to five days and referred to by SpaceX as “Framonauts,” includes mission commander Chun Wang of Malta, spacecraft commander Janice Mikkelsen of Norway, pilot Rabea Rogge of Germany, and Australian Eric Phillips, who will serve as mission specialist and flight medical officer.
“My journey has been shaped by constant curiosity and the desire to push boundaries,” Chun, a successful bitcoin entrepreneur, told reporters on Friday. “As a kid, I would look at the empty white space at the bottom of the world map and wonder what’s out there.”
Monday's launch of Fram2 marks SpaceX's third private civilian space tourism mission. Mikkelsen is the operator, Rogge is the roboticist, and Phillips is a self-described adventurer.
While the crew does not include experienced astronauts, Mikkelsen told CBS News that they are remarkably qualified given the “extensive training required by SpaceX.”
“I wish it was tourism,” Mikkelsen said. “We trained for over a year, so I've never trained so hard for a three-and-a-half-day expedition in my life.”
Over the weekend, “Fram2 and SpaceX spaceflight crews conducted a full rehearsal of launch day activities prior to liftoff.”
Fram2 entered a 90-degree circular orbit Monday evening, flying south over Miami and Cuba in a rare polar mission launched from Florida. The highest inclination achieved by a manned spaceflight was 65 degrees during the Soviet Union's Vostok 6 mission.
“We'll take off from 39A in Florida and head almost straight south,” said John Edwards, SpaceX vice president of Falcon 9 missions.
Sourse: www.upi.com
