Fram2

Mission

Fram2 on Falcon 9 Block 5. Tue 1 Apr 2025, 01:46:50 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Launch Complex 39A. Source: Launch Library 2.

Fram2 is the world’s first astronaut mission to polar orbit. Named after the Norwegian polar research ship Fram, the Crew Dragon spacecraft will launch into a 90° circular orbit from Florida, making it the first human spaceflight to fly over Earth’s polar regions from low-Earth orbit. A cupola will be installed on the Dragon spacecraft to allow for Earth observation from at an altitude of 425 – 450 km. During the 3-to-5-day mission, the crew will study green fragments and mauve ribbons of continuous emissions comparable to the phenomenon known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), persistently measured at an altitude of approximately 400 - 500 km above Earth’s atmosphere, among other studies. The crew will also work with SpaceX to conduct a variety of research to better understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body, which includes capturing the first human x-ray images in space, Just-in-Time training tools, and studying the effects of spaceflight on behavioural health. Chun Wang, an entrepreneur and explorer who co-founded f2pool and stakefish, serves as the mission commander. The vehicle commander will be Jannicke Mikkelsen, a film director, and cinematographer. The vehicle pilot will be Eric Philips, a professional polar adventurer and guide who has completed ski expeditions to the North and South Poles. The final crew member will be mission specialist Rabea Rogge, a robotics researcher from Berlin, currently pursuing her PhD in Norway.

Mission type

Human Exploration

Orbit

Polar Orbit

Rocket file imagery

Launch timeline

Times are relative to liftoff. Clock times are not shown while T-0 is unconfirmed or on hold.

1. T-45 min

   GO for Prop Load

   Launch director verifies go for propellant load

2. T-42 min

   Crew Access Arm Retract

   Retraction of the crew access arm from the rocket

3. T-39 min

   Dragon LES Arm

   Dragon's launch escape system is armed

4. T-35 min

   Stage 1 LOX Load

   Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage

5. T-35 min

   Prop Load

   Start of propelland loading

6. T-16 min

   Stage 2 LOX Load

   Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage

7. T-7 min

   Engine Chill

   Start of engine chilling

8. T-5 min

   Dragon Internal Power

   Dragon transitions to internal power

9. T-1 min

   Startup

   The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks

10. T-1 min

    Tank Press

    Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels

11. T-45 s

    GO for Launch

    Launch director verifies go for launch

12. T-3 s

    Ignition

    Start of the engine ignition sequence

13. T-0

    Liftoff

    First upwards movement of the rocket

14. T+57 s

    Max-Q

    Maximum dynamic pressure

15. T+2 min 34 s

    MECO

    Cut-off of the main engine

16. T+2 min 38 s

    Stage 2 Separation

    Separation of the second stage from the first

17. T+2 min 46 s

    SES-1

    First start of the second engine

18. T+2 min 51 s

    Booster Boostback Burn Startup

    Start of the booster boostback burn

19. T+3 min 23 s

    Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown

    End of the booster boostback burn

20. T+6 min 26 s

    Entry Burn Startup

    Start of the atmospheric entry burn

21. T+6 min 41 s

    Entry Burn Shutdown

    End of the atmospheric entry burn

22. T+7 min 47 s

    Stage 1 Landing Burn

    Start of the first stage landing burn

23. T+8 min 12 s

    Stage 1 Landing

    Landing of the first stage

24. T+8 min 57 s

    SECO-1

    First cut-off of the second engine

25. T+9 min 46 s

    Dragon Separation

    Dragon separates from the second stage

26. T+10 min 34 s

    Dragon Nosecode Open

    Start of the opening sequence of Dragon's nosecone

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:14 UTC.

Launch pad

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (US)

Coordinates: 28.60822681, -80.60428186