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When Philips launches as part of a privately funded SpaceX crew from Kennedy Space Center as early as Monday on a never-before-attempted orbit around Earth's polar regions , this first-time astronaut said he's expecting something like that.
"As we orbit around the North and South poles for three to five days, it's kind of that same blizzard experience," he told journalists during a Friday briefing on X. "We've got four people locked inside this shell − outside it, an incredibly harsh environment."
Philips is one of four astronauts on the Fram2 mission , which is scheduled for launch Monday from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A. The launch window opens at 9:46 p.m. EDT but SpaceX is currently targeting 11:20 p.m. for liftoff. Launch and recovery weather play a large part in timing.
This will be the first human spaceflight to orbit the poles. The crew will fly in their Dragon spacecraft on a 90-degree circular orbit. In the 64 years humans have been flying to space, this has never been attempted.
In order to achieve this orbit, the Falcon 9 will fly straight south, right over Miami and Cuba, after liftoff. This means those south of Cape Canaveral could get amazing views as the rocket flies overhead.
The mission was bought and organized by Chun Wang, a cryptocurrency businessman, who is serving as the mission commander. In addition to Philips, who is the mission specialist and medical officer, the crew also includes two women: Jannicke Mikkelsen, the vehicle commander and Rabea Rogge, the spacecraft pilot. All four have explored in extreme regions.
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