A private crew of astronauts provides a breathtaking glimpse of Antarctica from space, revealing the continent’s vast expanse of snow and ice, with no human activity visible.
The world’s southernmost continent, Antarctica, has long been a source of fascination for scientists and adventurers alike.
Covering an area of about 14 million km², Antarctica is the largest single mass of ice on Earth.
The continent has no permanent residents, only temporary scientists and researchers at various stations.
It has a unique ecosystem, with several species found nowhere else in the world.
Antarctica's climate is extreme, with temperatures ranging from -12°C to -60°C (-10°F to -76°F) and winds reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph).
Antarctica, from 460 kilometers above, appears as a vast expanse of snow and ice, with no human activity visible. This was confirmed by Chun Wang, the crypto entrepreneur who financed and led the private space mission, Fram2. ‘I was surprised not to spot any human presence on the continent,’ Wang tweeted, which is home to only a few thousand people.
The Fram2 Mission launched from Florida using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and carried a team of four spacefarers, including Wang, to an altitude of 285 miles. The spacecraft was designed to take a high orbital inclination, putting its path directly above the Earth’s North and South poles. This has never been done by a crewed mission before, due to the increased power and fuel requirements.
The Fram2 mission‘s scientific objectives have been criticized as lacking in substance, with some experiments sounding more like publicity stunts than rigorous scientific research. However, the mission does provide an opportunity to study how regular humans handle space travel, rather than battle-tested astronauts.
The Fram2 mission was a French polar expedition that took place from 1986 to 1987.
Led by Dr. Jean-Louis Étienne, the team aimed to cross Antarctica on foot.
The mission began on November 1, 1986, and lasted for 174 days, covering a distance of approximately 3,000 kilometers.
Fram2 was notable for its scientific research focus, collecting data on climate change, geology, and biology.
Despite facing harsh weather conditions and equipment failures, the team successfully completed their mission, providing valuable insights into Antarctica's environment.
Chun Wang reported that the ride to orbit was smoother than expected, but he and his team experienced space motion sickness upon entering microgravity. Thankfully, this quickly subsided, and Wang felt refreshed by the second morning.
