Latest news with #Crew-1
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX Fram2 Mission: Historic launch of first human flight over Earth's polar regions
The Brief SpaceX's Fram2 mission will be the first human spaceflight to Earth's polar regions, launching from Kennedy Space Center on March 31. The four-member crew will conduct 22 research experiments, including the first x-ray in space and studies on human health in microgravity. Experts highlight the mission's scientific significance and record-setting turnaround for human spaceflight. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX is preparing for a historic launch of the Fram2 mission, which will be the first human spaceflight to the Earth's polar regions. What we know SpaceX is preparing for a historic launch of the Fram2 mission, scheduled for Monday, March 31, at 9:46 p.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission has additional launch opportunities within a 4.5-hour window and backup dates available on Tuesday, April 1. Fram2 will be the first human spaceflight to Earth's polar regions, a milestone in 64 years of space travel. If the launch proceeds on schedule, it will set a record turnaround time for human spaceflight from Launch Complex 39A, coming just 17 days after Crew 10's departure. Aboard the Dragon spacecraft are four astronauts — Mission Commander Chun Wang, Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Eric Philips. This will be the first time in orbit for all of them. During the multi-day mission, the crew will fly over Earth's polar regions and conduct 22 research experiments focused on space exploration and human health. Their tasks include taking the first X-ray in space, studying exercise's effects on muscle and skeletal mass, and growing mushrooms in microgravity. What we don't know While the mission has clear research goals, it remains uncertain how successful the studies will be, particularly those related to post-flight astronaut recovery. Researchers will examine the crew's ability to exit the spacecraft unassisted after landing, but the outcome is unknown. Dig deeper The Dragon spacecraft supporting Fram2 has a significant history, having previously flown Crew-1, Inspiration4, and Polaris Dawn — missions that have advanced commercial space exploration and space tourism. The Falcon 9 first stage booster assigned to this mission is also a veteran of multiple flights, having supported Crew-9, RRT-1, the Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, and two Starlink deployments. After launch, it is expected to land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Big picture view Fram2 represents a new frontier in human spaceflight. Most astronaut missions follow equatorial or mid-latitude orbits, but this mission will take astronauts over Earth's polar regions for the first time. The data gathered could help future space missions, including those to the Moon and Mars, by expanding knowledge of human endurance in different orbital environments. Additionally, the rapid turnaround from Crew 10's launch demonstrates growing efficiency in human spaceflight operations, reinforcing SpaceX's role in advancing commercial and scientific missions. What they're saying Experts emphasize the uniqueness of Fram2's mission. "Most astronaut missions go into a sort of what you could call a more equatorial orbit, or an orbit that's more in the mid-latitude ranges. And so this is very unique in that aspect that this is the first time that that's ever happened," said Don Platt, Director of the Spaceport Education Center at Florida Tech. Platt also highlighted the scientific value of the mission. "These astronauts will be able to collect some data. Now that is actually doing some useful science, not just sort of flying a joyride, if you will." Dr. Ken Kremer, founder of Space UpClose, noted the mission's visibility from the ground. "The mission is about 3–5 days long. They'll be flying at the height of the International Space Station, which is roughly about 250 miles, and they're going to launch due south. So anybody in Fort Lauderdale or Miami, points south of us, should get really good views." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by SpaceX and interviews with Don Platt, Director of the Spaceport Education Center at Florida Tech, and Dr. Ken Kremer, founder of Space UpClose.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launching manned spaceflight to test human health in space
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Spacex is launching a human spaceflight Monday night to conduct research studies designed to advance human capabilities in space. Liftoff for the Falcon 9 launch of Fram2 is targeted for 9:46 p.m. from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. MOSI debuts second largest planetarium in the nation The crew aboard this multi-day mission will explore Earth from a polar orbit, and fly over the polar regions for the first time. They are tasked with 22 research studies to understand human health in space. Mission Commander Chun Wang, Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Eric Philips plan to take the first X-ray in space, perform exercises to maintain muscle and skeletal mass, and grow mushrooms in microgravity. SpaceX said when the crew lands and exits the Dragon spacecraft, they will do so without medical and operational assistance to test their ability to perform unassisted functional tasks after time in space. The Dragon spacecraft previously flew Crew-1, Inspiratioon4, and Polaris Dawn. This is the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. will live stream the space launch on Monday night, which can be viewed in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
19-03-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Pod of Dolphins Greets NASA Astronauts
SpaceX and the Coast Guard work together to try to keep civilian boaters away from returning spacecraft after astronauts splash down in the water. But on Tuesday night, they could not do anything about a pod of curious dolphins. A handful of the marine mammals swam up to a recovery boat that was set to lift the Crew Dragon Freedom to its deck and surfaced from the clear blue waters. 'Wow, we got a cute little pod of dolphins, it wasn't just one or two,' said Kate Tice, an engineering manager at SpaceX who was commentating on the company's video stream. As the dolphins' dorsal fins bobbed, she said that the team working on retrieving the capsule was 'getting quick assists from the honorary part of the recovery team, those dolphins.' Dolphins are generally social and playful marine mammals and often travel in groups, or pods. The most common species near Florida's Gulf Coast are bottle-nosed dolphins, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, although it was not clear which species was circling the SpaceX crews on Tuesday. It's not the first time wildlife have visited astronauts just after they returned to Earth. In 2021, photographers captured a lone dolphin swimming near the recovery boats headed to pick up the Dragon spacecraft used for SpaceX's Crew-1 mission. But an Orlando news station reported that the animal didn't stick around for the capsule's splashdown.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA wants your help designing its Artemis II mascot
NASA is seeking submissions for a new zero gravity indicator (ZGI) that will accompany the Artemis II astronauts on their upcoming trip around the moon. But if you think you need an advanced engineering degree to design the next ZGI, think again—any level of education and an enthusiasm for space exploration is probably enough to do the trick. The zero gravity indicator aboard a NASA spacecraft may sound like a complex piece of hardware, but it's generally a lot simpler (and cuter) than you might think. Aboard the 2022 Artemis I launch, for example, the ZGI took the form of a Snoopy plushie doll dressed in a bespoke astronaut suit, while SpaceX's Crew-1 mission in 2020 included a Baby Yoda doll from The Mandalorian. In reality, a ZGI is mostly a symbolic token celebrating another successful journey beyond Earth's gravitational pull, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of thought and care that goes into each mission's guest of honor. 'What better way to fly a mission around the Moon than to invite the public inside NASA's Orion spacecraft with us and ask for help in designing our zero gravity indicator?' Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander, said in a statement. 'The indicator will float alongside Victor [Glover], Christina [Koch], Jeremy [Hansen], and me as we go around the far side of the Moon and remind us of all of you back on Earth.' According to the official application portal, the winning zero gravity indicator must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for inclusion aboard Artemis II. Given that Orion's cargo space is at a premium, the ZGI must be small enough to fit inside a 6-square-inch box and weigh no more than 0.75 lbs. Applicants don't need to calculate their submission's exact dimensions and mass, but they do must make sure their idea can fit within those parameters. The design must accommodate safety standards inside Orion, particularly as they relate to flame and temperature resistance (think faux fur, polyester fiberfill, and materials like Kevlar, VDA Film, and beta cloth). Other than that, however, the sky's the limit for submissions. NASA notes the winning ZGI will be one that is original, 'relevant to a global audience,' as well as 'meaningful to the Artemis II mission and astronauts.' The challenge includes categories specifically designated for elementary and high school grade ranges, but each Team Lead must be at least 18 years old. Multiple winners will receive $1,225 prizes, but NASA will select just one to include on the Artemis II mission currently scheduled to launch no earlier than April 2026. Submissions can be sent via this portal and are due before 5pm EST on May 27. Finalists will be announced on or before July 31.
