The Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, 2025, was SpaceX’s 17th human spaceflight mission, carrying the Framonauts crew aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft “Resilience” into a historic polar orbit around Earth.
This mission concluded with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 4, 2025, marking a significant achievement: it brought the total number of crewmembers flown on Dragon to 66 and became the first Crew Dragon mission to land in the Pacific, distinct from the traditional Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico sites.
The @framonauts flew aboard Dragon’s 17th human spaceflight mission – with 66 crewmembers now having flown aboard the spacecraft – and became the first Dragon crew to splash down in the Pacific Ocean pic.twitter.com/HJWdz7gQWe
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 4, 2025
The Pacific Ocean splashdown reflects SpaceX’s evolving safety protocols, reducing debris risks over populated areas, and takes advantage of the region’s favorable weather and vast expanse, a strategy previously tested with cargo missions.
The Framonauts, a team of private astronauts, completed a three-to-five-day mission focused on polar exploration, showcasing Crew Dragon’s versatility and precision, while the successful splashdown highlighted advancements in parachute and heat shield technology amid the Pacific’s unique oceanographic conditions.
Widely celebrated on X, this achievement strengthens SpaceX’s leadership in human spaceflight and sets the stage for future West Coast recoveries.