Privately-Crewed Fram2 Mission Set To Fly From Florida Tomorrow

SpaceX is planning to launch the privately-crewed Fram2 mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon tomorrow evening from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff is set for 9:46 PM ET.

At A Glance

Mission Description

Fram2 after the polar exploration ship Fram, a ship used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912. Fram is now housed in a museum in Oslo, and is held in high regard by many polar exploration explorers.

Fram2 will be going to space rather than onto the open ocean, of course, and during the upcoming mission, Mission Commander Chun Wang a Maltese citizen, will be joined by Norway’s Jannicke Mikkelsen acting as vehicle commander; Australia’s Eric Philips the vehicle pilot; and Germany’s Rabea Rogge, a mission specialist, will be aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon. None of the four have traveled to space to date.

Fram2’s Planned Flight

Their mission will be to examine “unusual light emissions resembling auroras. The crew will study green fragments and mauve ribbons of continuous emissions comparable to the phenomenon known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), which has been measured at an altitude of approximately 400 – 500 km above Earth’s atmosphere.”

The SpaceX release also says that crew members will “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 behavioral health,” all to inform long-term spaceflight such as the company’s stated goal of sending humans to Mars using SpaceX Crew Dragon.

A Unique, Groundbreaking Trajectory

To achieve its goals of viewing the polar regions of Earth from orbit, Fram2 will take a trajectory never flown before: a polar launch that will head southwards nearly 90º from its launch site at Kennedy Space Center. During ascent, Fram2 will hug the east coast of the Sunshine State until it crosses the Straits of Florida and overflies Cuba.

Where it gets interesting is when it passes nearly overhead at West Palm Beach before gradually moving offshore and the Caribbean. (click on any map to expand)

Launch Viewing

SpaceX will have a live stream of the launch on its website, from SpaceX Crew Dragon, and on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: the northern Titusville parks and Max Brewer Bridge are your best bets.

Read Florida Media Now’s guide: How To Watch A Crewed Launch for more information. Keep in mind that Merritt Island National Wildlife will be closed, as will the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center.

The Space Bar will be open through at least the first part of the launch window.