The Fram2 mission has captured the attention of space enthusiasts worldwide as the first humans to orbit Earth from pole to pole share breathtaking views from their journey. The four astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience are currently on their third day in space, documenting their stunning experiences and sending captivating images and videos back to Earth. This remarkable mission is showcasing the beauty of our planet from a unique perspective.
In a series of videos shared on social media platform X, mission commander Chun Wang provides glimpses of Earth’s polar regions as the Resilience capsule circles the globe approximately every 90 minutes. One particularly striking video captures the crew's view as they fly over Florida, zooming in on the launch facilities along the Atlantic coast, including NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. One crew member excitedly remarks, “I can see our launch pad from here!” to which Chun responds, “It is our launch pad! Oh my god!”
Financed by Maltese cryptocurrency billionaire Wang, the Fram2 mission includes an impressive lineup of first-time space travelers: Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, Rabea Rogge from Germany, and Eric Philips from Australia. These spaceflight rookies launched aboard Resilience thanks to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from KSC's Launch Complex-39A on March 31.
In the latest Fram2 video, viewers are treated to stunning visuals of the aquamarine waters surrounding Florida, along with close-ups of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island on the Space Coast. The video highlights the positioning of LC-39A, located just below the northernmost pad at Cape Canaveral. This facility is particularly significant as it was the launch point for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Artemis 1 mission in November 2022.
Wang described the launch experience, noting that the Falcon 9 liftoff was much smoother than anticipated. "Apart from the final minute before SECO (second engine cutoff), I barely felt any G-forces—it honestly felt like just another flight," Wang shared in a detailed post. The crew has also faced initial challenges with motion sickness as they adjusted to the microgravity environment. Notably, the crew has engaged in ham radio communications, taken X-ray images, enjoyed a movie night featuring replays of their launch, and had their first look through the spacecraft's large cupola window.
Another captivating video, titled "Flight Day 3," showcases swirling storms over an ice-covered Earth as the crew discusses various cloud formations and Arctic hurricanes. This video also includes a brief glimpse of Florida during the night and a sunlit view of Norway’s Svalbard Islands. The emotional connection to family is highlighted as Philips shares a video call with his son, who is eagerly waiting for their return in Los Angeles, stating, “That’s going to be tomorrow.”
The Fram2 mission is expected to last between three to five days, with a potential return to Earth on April 4. However, official confirmation of Resilience’s return has yet to be announced by SpaceX. Upon their return, the Resilience capsule is set to make a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a significant shift in SpaceX's recovery operations, which have traditionally taken place off the coast of Florida.
As the Fram2 mission continues, the astronauts' shared experiences and the spectacular views of our planet inspire awe and excitement for the future of space exploration.
