Berlin, August 15, 2024, The Europe Today: SpaceX announced on Wednesday that Rabea Rogge will become the first German woman to fly into space, joining four other astronauts aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The historic mission, named Fram2, is scheduled for no earlier than late 2024.
Rogge, a robotics researcher with a background in electrical engineering and information technology from ETH Zurich, transferred to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for her doctoral studies. Expressing her excitement about the mission, Rogge shared on social media, “I’m really looking forward to being responsible for the research and getting some cool projects off the ground.”
This mission marks a significant milestone, as no German woman has ever traveled to space, according to the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
The Fram2 mission will be the first human spaceflight over the Earth’s poles. During the multi-day journey, the team will conduct research on the Earth’s polar regions and study the phenomenon known as “Steve,” a type of purple light similar to the northern lights, at altitudes of 425 to 450 kilometers (264 to 280 miles). Additionally, the mission is set to produce the first X-ray images of humans in space.
SpaceX’s announcement of this groundbreaking mission not only highlights the continued advancements in space exploration but also the increasing role of women in leading scientific research beyond Earth.
