Tyler the Polar Bear Floats into History on Fram2 Polar Orbit Flight

The astronauts aboard the Fram2 mission have brought along a symbolic companion, a plush white polar bear, to serve as their zero-g indicator. The soft toy, revealed after launch on 31 March 2025, has a unique touch: an embroidered image of an emperor penguin on its chest.

The bear was first spotted floating inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft after the crew entered orbit. A mission spokesperson told collectSPACE, “Fram2’s zero-g indicator is symbolic of the beautiful polar regions over which the crew will orbit. Combined, these two majestic animals represent the crew’s hope for unity among all species on planet Earth, and beyond.”

Fram2’s Polar Bear Is A Nod to Both Poles

As the first human mission to fly into a polar orbit, Fram2 passes over both the North and South Poles. The polar bear is a fitting symbol for the Arctic, while the penguin embroidery represents the Antarctic. This choice highlights the mission’s theme of global unity and environmental awareness.

Commander Chun Wang, a Chinese-born cryptocurrency investor who funded the mission, released the toy into the cabin to float at the end of a tether. In a video update, the crew later shared that the bear’s name is “Tyler” and gave a closer look at its design.

Crew Includes Polar Explorers and Pioneers

Wang is joined by Jannicke Mikkelsen, a Norwegian cinematographer and the first woman from Norway in space; Rabea Rogge, a German robotics expert and Arctic researcher who is now the first German woman in space; and Eric Philips, an Australian adventurer and mission medical officer who has skied to both poles.

Tradition of Floating Companions

Zero-g indicators have long been part of spaceflight tradition, dating back to 1961 when Yuri Gagarin brought a small doll on the first human spaceflight. These floating toys offer a visible sign that weightlessness has been reached.

Fram2’s plush bear isn’t the first of its kind to float in space. Cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov flew a small polar bear on two ISS missions, and another polar bear mascot from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics flew aboard Soyuz TMA-11M in 2013.

SpaceX’s Crew-2 astronauts also brought a penguin toy named “GuinGuin” in 2021, made by Jellycat, a UK-based toy maker.

Short Mission, Historic Firsts

The Fram2 crew will orbit Earth every 46 minutes, crossing between the poles on each pass. Their mission, lasting around three days, marks the first human journey through a polar orbit. After exploring Earth from this unique vantage point, they will return with “Tyler” for a planned splashdown off the southern California coast.