A successful return marked the end of a groundbreaking voyage for a wealthy bitcoin entrepreneur and three fellow adventurers, who re-entered Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California after completing the first crewed flight around Earth’s poles. The Crew Dragon “Resilience” fired its braking rockets at 11:26 a.m. EDT, slowing down during re-entry and deploying parachutes for a gentle 16-mph splashdown at 12:19 p.m.
The crew, including mission commander Chun Wang, Norwegian cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen, German robotics specialist Rabea Rogge, and Australian polar guide Eric Philips, exited the capsule on their own, showcasing their ability to egress without assistance. Despite some post-spaceflight adjustment, the crew members were all smiles as they were greeted by support personnel and underwent initial medical checks on the recovery ship Shannon.
The diverse team, who all have experience in polar expeditions, shared their excitement for the mission’s success. Chun, originally from Malta but residing in Norway, expressed how the flight met its objectives as they circled above Earth. While observing the planet from their unique perspective, the crewmates encountered vast expanses of white, lacking visible human activity below.
This mission, known as Fram2, represented a significant milestone in space tourism, as the crew members were not licensed pilots. However, the highly automated nature of the Crew Dragon allowed for successful control throughout the journey. SpaceX sees this flight as a crucial step towards broader space exploration opportunities in the future.
An enthusiastic world traveler and polar explorer, Chun paid an undisclosed amount to SpaceX to charter Resilience for a trip to polar orbit, marking SpaceX’s third privately funded civilian space tourism flight. The mission, named Fram2 in tribute to a historic sailing ship that carried arctic explorers, included a small piece of the original ship’s teak decking aboard the Crew Dragon. Chun expressed his lifelong curiosity and passion for exploration, emphasizing the importance of pushing boundaries and inspiring others. The crew planned to conduct 22 experiments, such as filming auroras from orbit and testing compact exercise equipment, oyster mushroom cultivation in microgravity, and taking the first X-rays in space. During the flight, the crew shared breathtaking videos, including a timelapse view from the Crew Dragon sailing over Antarctica to the North Pole every 46 minutes. They also captured images of the Arctic and Antarctic from space and eagerly anticipated sharing these post-mission.
