The Fram2 mission crew has published the first photos and videos. They demonstrate how Antarctica looks from low-Earth orbit.
Fram2 is a private mission on Crew Dragon, funded by Malta-based cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chun Wan. In addition to him, the crew also includes German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge, Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen and Australian professional polar explorer Eric Phillips.
Fram2 was launched on April 1. For the first time in history, a manned spacecraft was launched into polar orbit. This gave the four Fram crew a unique opportunity to see the Arctic and Antarctica from space.
Fram2 is also the second mission to fly with Dragon’s cupola. At nearly 4’ wide, the cupola is the largest continuous window in space, providing 360° views pic.twitter.com/BvvyR7FCPN
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 1, 2025
The Fram2 crew has already published the first records made during the flight. They show Antarctica. The footage was taken through a dome mounted on the nose of Crew Dragon, providing the astronauts with a 360° view.
In addition to taking pictures of the Earth’s poles, the mission participants also conducted several experiments. One of them was the first ever X-ray image of a human being taken in space. Also, during the Fram2Ham project, radio amateurs from various cities in Europe have made contact with Rabea Rogge. This experiment evaluated the potential for radio communications in polar orbit and was part of an educational initiative to advance science. In addition, the Fram2 crew tested the Starlink system.
The Fram2 flight program is designed for 86 hours. The return of the private astronauts to Earth should take place on April 4.
