In a historic first, four private citizens completed a pioneering journey around Earth—this time not along the equator, but over both poles. The SpaceX mission, quietly funded by Bitcoin investor Chun Wang, ended with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, marking the first polar orbit spaceflight by civilians and the first crewed Pacific splashdown in 50 years. Yet, while the mission broke new ground, one question remains unanswered: what was the price tag?
Wang, who now resides in Malta, invited three companions—Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge, and Australian polar guide Eric Philips. Together, they experienced sights few humans have ever seen, peering through a custom domed window that offered 360-degree views of both polar caps. It was a journey unlike any before, one that even included the first medical X-rays in space and a symbolic tribute to historic explorers with a piece of wood from the legendary Fram ship aboard.
But this mission wasn’t about luxury or spectacle alone. The team battled space sickness, conducted over two dozen experiments, and tested how the human body holds up after space travel—hauling gear at splashdown to assess post-flight coordination. SpaceX chose a Pacific return route for safety, a decision that also tied this mission back to the Apollo-Soyuz landing of 1975.
Despite all the fanfare and scientific accomplishments, the cost remains a mystery. Wang has refused to reveal how much he paid for the 3.5-day voyage. Was it millions? Tens of millions? No one knows. But one thing is clear: this mission wasn’t just a trip—it was a milestone. A first-of-its-kind, privately led journey over the top and bottom of the world, pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight into uncharted territory.
