Earth's Polar Orbits Attained for the First Time by Humans Today: Delayed Journey Explained
The Fram2 mission, a private space expedition by SpaceX, is set to make history as it ventures out to a polar orbit around Earth. Scheduled to launch no earlier than Monday, March 31 at 11:20 p.m. ET, the mission will send four amateur astronauts into space, becoming the first crew to orbit over Earth's poles.
The polar orbit of Fram2 is advantageous for weather satellites, as it allows for monitoring the effects of climate change on the Arctic regions. Polar orbit satellites travel around the Earth from one pole to another, watching the planet as it rotates below. This unique trajectory will offer a rare glimpse of Earth's polar regions.
However, polar orbit missions come with their own set of challenges. Compared to equatorial orbits, polar launches require more propellant and energy, making them technically and economically more challenging. The Fram2 mission's trajectory increases the energy required for launch compared to equatorial orbits.
One of the specific challenges associated with polar orbit missions for humans is the increased radiation exposure. Polar orbits pass through Earth's Van Allen radiation belts more often, exposing the crew to higher levels of cosmic radiation compared to low-inclination equatorial orbits. The radiation environment in polar orbits is harsher than in the International Space Station's orbit.
Earth's geomagnetic field allows trapped energetic electrons and ions from the Van Allen belts to leak to orbital altitudes in the polar regions. This increased radiation exposure poses additional health risks for astronauts.
Other challenges include flight paths and launch sites, orbital dynamics, mission duration and logistics, and limited existing infrastructure. Polar launches must go over poles, requiring different launch corridors that may pass over populated areas or environmentally sensitive regions, complicating safety and logistics.
Despite these challenges, the Fram2 crew will spend three to five days on board SpaceX's Dragon crew spacecraft in a polar orbit at an inclination of about 60 to 90 degrees to the equator. During their mission, they will study the aurora-like phenomenon known as STEVE from a polar orbit, marking another first for the mission.
The Fram2 mission's polar orbit is not only advantageous for weather and space observations but also for breaking new ground in human space exploration. This will be the first time the astronauts are in space, and they will venture where no other crew has gone before.
Sources: [1] Space.com. (2021). Why Polar Orbits are Harder to Achieve than Equatorial Orbits. [online] Available at: https://www.space.com/40559-polar-orbits-vs-equatorial-orbits.html [2] NASA.gov. (2021). Van Allen Probes. [online] Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/vanallen/main/index.html [3] NASA.gov. (2021). Radiation Belts. [online] Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/radiation-belts [4] Space.com. (2021). Polar Orbit Satellites vs. Equatorial Orbit Satellites. [online] Available at: https://www.space.com/38163-polar-orbit-satellites-vs-equatorial-orbit-satellites.html
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