A historic space mission is impending, as four amateur astronauts prepare to embark on a journey to the Earth’s polar region, a territory previously unexplored by any crew, in order to gain a deeper understanding of human adaptability in space.

The Fram2 mission, operated by SpaceX, is scheduled to launch on Monday at 9:46 p.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission will involve launching a private crew of astronauts aboard a Dragon spacecraft, where they will spend approximately three to five days observing the Earth from a unique polar orbit. For more information on the mission, you can visit the SpaceX website or learn about the private crew’s mission.

SpaceX will provide a live stream of the launch on its website and X account, commencing about an hour prior to liftoff. In the event of a postponement, a backup launch opportunity is available on Tuesday, April 1, contingent upon weather conditions.

The crew of novice astronauts comprises Chun Wang from Malta, who is not only the founder of the Bitcoin mining companies f2pool and stakefish but also the leader and reported funder of the Fram2 mission; Jannicke Mikkelsen, a Norwegian cinematographer; Eric Philips, an Australian polar adventurer; and Rabea Rogge, a German robotics researcher.

Despite lacking prior experience in spaceflight, the crew is set to venture into uncharted territory. The Dragon spacecraft will transport the astronauts over the Earth’s polar regions at an altitude of approximately 265 to 280 miles (425 to 450 kilometers) above the ground, where they will execute a polar orbit at an inclination of about 60 to 90 degrees relative to the equator. If successful, the Fram2 mission will make history as the first human crew to orbit the Earth’s poles.

During the mission, the astronauts will conduct 22 research studies designed to enhance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration and understanding of human health in space, according to SpaceX. The crew plans to capture the first X-ray in space, perform exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass, and cultivate mushrooms in microgravity. Moreover, they intend to investigate the aurora-like phenomenon known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), characterized by its hazy purple and green streaks across the sky.

Upon returning to Earth, the crew will exit the Dragon spacecraft without requiring additional medical and operational assistance, thereby aiding researchers in characterizing the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short and long durations in space, as stated by SpaceX.

The Dragon crew vehicle utilized for Fram2 previously flew SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, which achieved the first commercial spacewalk in history. SpaceX is pushing the boundaries with its private missions, which go far beyond conventional space tourism.