Cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen, 38, is set to become Norway’s first astronaut, fulfilling a dream she has had since childhood. (Photo: Elise Kjørstad)

History is being made in space exploration. Last year it was announced that a four-person crew will conduct a spaceflight orbiting the Earth’s two poles for the first time. None of the crew has ever been in space before, although each brings a unique skill set to the team. Leading them on the 3 to 5 day mission is Jannicke Mikkelsen, a Norwegian from Svalbard, Norway. This makes her the country’s first astronaut. Another Norwegian connection is that the mission is named Fram2, a nod to the ship that was used by Norwegian explorers Nansen and Amundsen in their polar explorations. 

Mikkelsen is a filmmaker and cinematographer who specializes in 3D, virtual reality, and visual effects. One of her major contributions to this mission will be to film as they are in orbit. The purpose of the mission is for research. First, is to study the effects of radiation exposure on the human body, since the polar orbit is known to have higher levels. They will also study other aspects of human physiology and psychology as it relates to the effects of space travel to inform future space endeavors.  The mission plans to also conduct the first human x-ray while in space as part of the research. The second area of research that the mission will contribute to is related to the northern lights phenomenon. While the spacecraft flies over the northern lights, civilians will be photographing the lights from the ground. 

While it may seem unconventional to have a filmmaker go into space as part of a mission, Jannicke Mikkelsen’s story is by no means conventional either. At just 10 years old, after a horse-riding accident that left her in a wheelchair, she developed a fascination with and love of all things space-related. At age 12, she applied for a job at NASA. She even made it through the first round of selections, until her mother had to clarify that she was a bit too young to actually work for them. When she regained her ability to walk, she went on to become an accomplished speed skater and even trained for the Olympics before getting her degree in film. 

The mission is scheduled to take off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center in March 2025.  

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