“We Were All Focused On Managing the Motion Sickness”: Fram2 Astronauts Share First Impressions

SpaceX’s Fram2 astronauts have completed their first full day in orbit following Tuesday’s historic launch to explore Earth’s polar regions. Mission Commander Wang Chun posted an update on X, sharing how the astronauts spent their first hours in microgravity and how their bodies reacted to it.

Fram2 Astronauts Battle Space Sickness, Then Enjoy Breakfast with a View

Chun confirmed that the launch itself went smoothly, but once in orbit, all four astronauts began feeling the effects of microgravity.

“We felt nauseous and ended up vomiting a couple of times,” Chun wrote. “It felt different from motion sickness in a car or at sea. You could still read on your iPad without making it worse. But even a small sip of water could upset your stomach and trigger vomiting.”

The Fram2 astronauts includes Chun, pilot Jannicke Mikkelsen, mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips, and vehicle pilot Rabea Rogge. Despite the rocky start, all crew members are reported to be in good health.

Early Science and a Movie Night

Within just a few hours of arrival, the team began their first experiments. SpaceX confirmed they completed a study on how human cognition adapts to the spaceflight environment. They also ran initial Starlink tests from orbit.

Commander Chun shared photos, including the first X-ray taken in space, and described how Rogge made contact with Berlin via ham radio.

“No one asked about opening the cupola on the first day—we were all focused on managing the motion sickness,” he said. “We had a movie night watching our own launch and went to sleep a bit earlier than scheduled. We all slept really well.”

Hello, Antarctica.

Unlike previously anticipated, from 460 km above, it is only pure white, no human activity is visible. pic.twitter.com/i7JawFYzW2

— Chun (@satofishi) April 2, 2025

He also posted a photo of Earth at night, showing a glowing atmosphere and a sky full of stars.

Breakfast with a View

On Day 2, Chun released a video showing the team eating breakfast while admiring views of the South Pole through Dragon’s window. The astronauts were all smiles as they prepared for the tasks ahead.

“I can’t explain how fun microgravity is,” Philips said in the clip. “It looks amazing in the videos when you see astronauts in space but it doesn’t really reflect the joy that it brings.”

A Short But Packed Mission

The Fram2 mission will last between three and five days. During that time, the crew will conduct 22 experiments focused on human health in space. They’ll also observe rare polar phenomena, including STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), a light display similar to auroras.