The astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Fram2 mission are sharing breathtaking views from space as they orbit the Earth from pole to pole. Currently on their third day in the Crew Dragon Resilience, these four astronauts are capturing the beauty of our planet and sharing it on social media. Chun Wang, the mission commander, recently posted videos showcasing stunning sights of the Arctic and Antarctica. Resilience completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 90 minutes.
One video shows the capsule gliding over Florida, zooming in on launch facilities managed by NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. “I can see our launch pad from here!” exclaimed one crew member, while Chun responded with excitement, “It is our launch pad! Oh my god!”
This mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center on March 31, is funded by cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang and includes three other spaceflight rookies: Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, Rabea Rogge from Germany, and Eric Philips from Australia. They all took off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex-39A.
As captured in their shared footage, the astronauts have witnessed the incredible sight of Florida’s aquamarine waters and the launch sites included in the Space Coast. Notably, one of these sites, Launch Complex-39A, played a vital role in NASA’s Artemis 1 mission, which successfully took place in November 2022.
Wang provided insights about their experience soon after launch, noting how smooth the ride was compared to his expectations. “Apart from the final minute before second engine cutoff, I barely felt any G-forces,” he shared, comparing it to a regular flight rather than a thrilling rocket launch.
However, the transition to microgravity wasn’t easy. The crew experienced motion sickness as they adjusted, feeling nauseous despite engaging activities like taking X-ray images and having a movie night featuring their recent launch. For Wang, the first few hours were challenging, yet he noted that everyone felt better by the second morning. “We had breakfast, took some X-ray images, and opened the cupola three minutes after midnight UTC—just above the South Pole,” he stated.
In another update, Wang shared clips of a massive storm swirling over the ice-covered Earth. He mentioned that they enjoyed examining different cloud formations and even referenced “Arctic hurricanes.” Their journey has engaged many on social media, with users expressing excitement at seeing the crew’s experience unfold in real time.
This mission is expected to last three to five days, with a projected return to Earth on April 4. SpaceX plans for Resilience to make a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of California, which will be the first time a SpaceX crew mission lands in the Pacific Ocean. It’s a significant change as the company shifts its recovery operations from Florida.
As space travel becomes more common, missions like Fram2 are not only thrilling but also emphasize the ongoing advancements in scientific exploration. According to a recent survey, over 70% of people now view space travel more positively, reflecting a growing interest in commercial spaceflight and its implications for our future.
For more updates on space exploration, you can follow the Fram2 crew’s journey on Twitter and other platforms. Their experiences show the power of human curiosity and the wonders beyond our planet.
Check out this related article: New Study Reveals: Oxygen Metabolism Existed on Earth Long Before the Great Oxidation Event
Source link