SpaceX is set to launch four thrill-seekers on a private space mission that will fly over Earth’s polar regions later this year.
The Fram2 mission, named after a historic Norwegian ship used in Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, will be led by Chinese-born entrepreneur Chun Wang. It will be the first crewed mission to explore Earth's polar regions.
It is scheduled to be the sixth private mission launched by SpaceX – after Inspiration4 in September 2021, three flights for Houston company Axiom Space and Polaris Dawn, a mission scheduled for August 26.
“Yes, I’ve been looking forward to this mission for 2.5 years now,” Mr Wang posted on X, on Tuesday.
“From mission proposal, planning, trajectory design, to crew selection, everything has been done by the customer.
“And now, here we are. Until 2021, space missions were solely the privilege of governments. Private individuals were unable to charter a space shuttle like they would do for an aeroplane.”
The mission, which will last for three to five days, will also include first-time space tourists Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, Australia’s Eric Philips and Germany’s Rabea Rogge.
A Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Dragon capsule to an altitude of 425km to 450km, so the crew can study unusual light emissions which resemble auroras, among other scientific research, said officials.
No date has been given for the Fram2 mission, though SpaceX indicated that it was scheduled for this year.
Who is Chun Wang?
Maltese national Mr Wang led several technology start-ups focused on artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. He has taken part in numerous expeditions, including trekking across Greenland’s ice sheet and reaching the North Pole.
While Mr Wang will serve as mission commander for Fram2, his fellow crew members will take on roles of vehicle commander, pilot and mission specialist.
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, is leading orbital space tourism efforts. In 2021, Inspiration4 became the first all-civilian orbiting space mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman.
“It was a space tourist mission, but unlike any space tourists before it. For the first time in space flight history, a private individual could rent an entire spacecraft, planned, designed and executed their own very personal mission with clear objectives,” Mr Wang said about Inspiration4. “It should never be underrated.”
SpaceX also sells flights to space infrastructure company Axiom Space, which arranges trips for clients.
Since 2022, it has carried out three missions to the International Space Station, Axiom-1, 2 and 3. It launched two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni in 2023.
SpaceX will also provide services to the Polaris Programme, created by Mr Isaacman, founder and chief executive of payment processing company Shift4.
Polaris Dawn, the first of three missions under the programme, is scheduled for launch on August 26, and is set to feature the first spacewalk carried out by civilians.
In addition to private missions, SpaceX launches astronauts for Nasa to the ISS under the agency's commercial crew programme. It has sent eight crews so far.
Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin launches suborbital tourism flights to the edge of space.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic also offered suborbital flights, but has ended trips on its VSS Unity spaceplane, instead developing its new Delta planes.
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
