Fram2 passengers take their first pictures of Earth’s polar regions
SpaceX yesterday released a short video of the first pictures of the Earth’s polar regions taken by its Fram2 passengers on the capsule Resilience.
The picture to the right is a screen capture from that film, looking out the capsule’s large cupola window in its nose. The capsule’s nosecone can be seen at the bottom, having hinged sideways out of the way during orbital operations.
The tweet provided little information about the images. For example, it did not say which pole was imaged. Since the ground and ice below is dark, we are likely looking at the north pole, which at this time of year is mostly in shadow. You can see what looks like the edge of the ice pack, partly hidden by clouds.
The flight is scheduled to last from three to five days, and is presently in its second day. Not much information from the crew in orbit has at this point been released. I suspect they are simply enjoying their experience in private, since they are not obligated to share it with the world.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
SpaceX yesterday released a short video of the first pictures of the Earth’s polar regions taken by its Fram2 passengers on the capsule Resilience.
The picture to the right is a screen capture from that film, looking out the capsule’s large cupola window in its nose. The capsule’s nosecone can be seen at the bottom, having hinged sideways out of the way during orbital operations.
The tweet provided little information about the images. For example, it did not say which pole was imaged. Since the ground and ice below is dark, we are likely looking at the north pole, which at this time of year is mostly in shadow. You can see what looks like the edge of the ice pack, partly hidden by clouds.
The flight is scheduled to last from three to five days, and is presently in its second day. Not much information from the crew in orbit has at this point been released. I suspect they are simply enjoying their experience in private, since they are not obligated to share it with the world.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Since we’re past the vernal equinox, albeit not by much, wouldn’t it be more likely to be the south pole?
Yes, and I also think it’s the South Pole because the North Pole has been ice-free for decades now, according to no less an authority than the great Al Gore himself!
Not much information from the crew in orbit has at this point been released.
Apparently they all had some serious space adaptation syndrome on Day One. That was why they delayed opening the hatch to the cupola. Hey: It can happen to anyone (just ask Frank Borman!*).
https://x.com/satofishi/status/1907286344168276215
__
* Yes, I know, Frank is no longer with us. (R.I.P.) But you can read about it in Bob’s book!
Richard–
So, they got sick?
I’m glad you brought that up, I never hear about this anymore. Need to go on a deep dive later. (This is apparently well researched!)
Can’t find the Video Clip I want, it exists but I can’t find it.
-One of the Apollo astronauts talking about taking “Scopolamine & Dexedrine” for motion sickness in space.
“Scopadex” = 25 mg of Scopolamine hydrobromide with 5 mg of Dexamphetamine.
I’m confused. It looks like we are looking at the cupola from a camera on the nosecone with the south? Pole in the background,
. The view is similar to the ones for the spacewalk mission but with the cupola bubble replaced by a railing.
I really enjoy your site. Thanks stan
Wayne,
Yeah. Chun talks about it in that tweet I linked. Sounds like all four of them got hit hard.
But they appear to be much better today.
The informal scale for space nausea in the NASA astronaut corps is a “Garn,” named after Senator Jake Garn, who spent pretty much all of his 1985 Shuttle mission as a floating vomit ball. “One Garn” means you maxed out. I wonder how the Fram2 crew feels they measured on the Garn scale?
But it looks like unlike Garn, they aren’t spending the whole mission in that state.
Stan,
Yeah, the nose cap is on a hinge, and is pulled back while they are in orbit. It has a camera on the far edge, and that’s where a lot of our Fram2 shots are coming from.
Richard M-
Again, glad you brought this up. The only thing I ever really knew about it was that a large percentage of people experienced effects and pharmaceuticals were utilized.
I just never hear of this anymore.
I think “Proxmire” is a great name for space toilets.