Melissa Donovan
SpaceX is gearing up for its next private crewed mission, Fram2, just days after completing its 10th crew rotation mission with NASA to the International Space Station (ISS). The upcoming launch is set to take place on March 31, 2025, with a primary launch window beginning at 9:46 p.m. EST, and a backup opportunity at 11:20 p.m. If necessary, the launch window extends into the early hours of April 1, offering additional backup slots at 12:53 a.m. and 2:26 a.m. Further backup options are available on Tuesday, April 1, starting at the same times.
Historic Mission with Diverse Crew
Fram2 is set to make history as the first-ever mission to fly a human crew on a polar orbit around Earth and conduct the first human X-ray imaging in space. The mission is being led by Chun Wang, a Chinese-born cryptocurrency entrepreneur and Maltese citizen. Wang will be joined by three other crew members from six different countries, forming a truly international team.
The Fram2 crew includes Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, who will serve as the vehicle commander; Eric Philips from Australia, taking on the role of mission specialist; and Rabea Rogge from Germany, who will serve as the pilot. Together, the team will embark on a mission that will last between three to five days, marking their first time in space.
Fast Turnaround for SpaceX Crewed Launches
The launch of Fram2 comes just 17 days after SpaceX’s Crew 10 mission, setting a new record for turnaround time for human spaceflight from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. This quick succession of missions demonstrates the efficiency and rapid capabilities of SpaceX’s operations.
Notable Features of the Mission
Fram2 will also make history in other ways. It will be the first time a sixth-flight Falcon 9 booster will be used to support a crewed mission. This milestone highlights the increasing reusability of SpaceX’s rockets, a key feature in the company’s broader efforts to reduce the cost of space travel.
The mission is named after the Fram, a famous Norwegian ship that carried explorers to the Arctic and Antarctic more than a century ago. The legacy of exploration and innovation tied to the Fram ship resonates with the crew’s mission objectives in space.
A New Era of Private Space Missions
Fram2 is the third private crew mission by SpaceX that does not involve the ISS, following the Inspiration4 mission in 2021 and the Polaris Dawn mission in 2024. These private missions represent a new frontier for space exploration, with SpaceX playing a leading role in advancing the commercial space industry.
As SpaceX prepares for the launch of Fram2, the company continues to push the boundaries of human spaceflight and pave the way for future private space missions.
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