Private Polar Expedition: SpaceX’s Fram2 Mission Takes Crypto Speculator and Arctic Specialists to Space

Private polar expeditions have taken a new twist as cryptocurrency speculator Chun Wang purchases a multi-day flight with SpaceX for an undisclosed amount. Wang plans to lead the first crewed space mission in polar orbit, flying end-to-end over the Earth. The mission, named “Fram2” after the 19th-century polar expedition ship Fram, is scheduled to launch later this year on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, using the thrice-flown Dragon capsule named Endurance.

Wang has invited a trio of Arctic specialists to join him on the mission: Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, Australian explorer and guide Eric Philips, and German researcher Rabea Rogge. Wang expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, “For the first time, a private person can plan and design their own very personal mission.”

Wang, who was born in China and now resides in Malta, became interested in space at a young age. He describes himself as a “nomadic” individual who has visited over 100 countries in recent years. Wang’s fellow crewmembers were all acquainted through their shared experiences in Svalbard, a far north Norwegian archipelago.

While the cost of human spaceflight has decreased, multi-day missions like this one are still primarily accessible to ultra-high-net-worth individuals. SpaceX does not disclose the price of its crewed missions, but it is estimated to be upward of $200 million based on NASA’s disclosed payment of $55 million per seat for astronauts flying on Dragon.

Wang confirmed that he personally funded the mission but did not reveal the exact amount. He has maintained a low profile, with his net worth primarily tied to cryptocurrency mining. According to his LinkedIn profile, Wang claims to have mined 7,700 bitcoins, which would be worth around $450 million at current prices. He is also credited as the co-founder of F2Pool, a decentralized collective that has mined over 1.3 million bitcoins in the past 11 years, amounting to over $76 billion in today’s dollars.

Mikkelsen, Wang’s neighbor in Svalbard, expressed her surprise when Wang approached her about joining the mission. She said, “I absolutely did not believe Chun when he just randomly texted me.” The crew members have already started training with SpaceX and recently completed their own “extreme environment” training in Alaska.

The Fram2 mission will be similar to the historic private Inspiration4 flight conducted in 2021. The spacecraft will feature a “cupola” window and spend three to five days in orbit. The crew plans to conduct various research activities, including studying the upper atmosphere and analyzing the effects of spaceflight on the human body. Mikkelsen mentioned their interest in studying “fragments in the aurora” above Earth.

The crew members hope that their mission will contribute to the growing accessibility of space. They aspire to create an immersive production that allows people to experience the journey as if they were in the Dragon spacecraft. Wang emphasized their goal of widening the door and making people feel that everyone can have their own personal space mission. By pushing the boundaries of private space exploration, Wang and his team are paving the way for future endeavors beyond Earth’s atmosphere.