The Blue Marble

We were given the unique opportunity to send twelve video questions from primary schools from around the globe to Jannicke and the crew of the Fram2 space mission, who answered them while in space! The crew were filmed alongside a digital tablet displaying the pre-recorded questions, allowing the children to see themselves floating in space alongside the astronauts!

The project is closed and the videos from the astronauts answering students' questions are available in the  [Winners in Space! tab.](https://play.ootiboo.com/projects/blue-marble/winners) 



_Here are some examples of the fantastic questions we received._

A huge thank you to all the amazing ootiboo schools that participated in The Blue Marble project. We were blown away by the 423 fantastic video questions submitted, making it incredibly tough for the astronauts to choose!

Below are the twelve winning students posing their questions, and the answers from the crew as they orbited Earth. We also have an extra video from the Fram2 crew showing the view outside. Enjoy! 

The view outside

Shivansh

Mia, Mater Boni Consilii St Joseph School Paola, Malta

Mimi, Brabourne C of E Primary School, UK

Mimi

Madeline

Sophie, Windhoek International School, Namibia

Sophie

Alicia, Escola da Criança Espaço de Adolescer, Brazil

Alicia

Max, St Peter's C of E Primary School, UK

Tallara, Bishop Druitt College, Australia

Tallara

Anayah

Karl, Berlin Metropolitan School, Germany

Karl

Laura, Escola da Criança Espaço de Adolescer, Brazil

Laura

Archie

BLU_WINNERS-MAP.jpg

Image

_A map showcasing where in **The Blue Marble** the winning questions have come from!_

This project was launched in September 2024 and is open to ootiboo school children of any age. The deadline for video entries is October 25.

Not an ootiboo school? [Sign up](https://teachers.ootiboo.com/sign-up) for free. 


Info 

For ootiboo schools only. 

Submitting one or more video questions from your pupils will earn you a point towards your first or next [Super School](https://play.ootiboo.com/super-schools) certificate.


Certificates 

This project can be completed by an ootiboo school anywhere in the world. 

Not an ootiboo school? [Sign up](https://teachers.ootiboo.com/sign-up) for free. 

International project 

Leaflet

Why Blue Marble? 

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We named this project The Blue Marble in homage to the photograph of the same name. This picture of Earth was taken by NASA astronauts on December 7 1972, from the Apollo 17 spacecraft while on its way to the Moon. Viewed from around 29,400 km (18,300 mi) from Earth's surface, it has become one of the most reproduced images in history.

About the mission 

BLU_CREW-SHOT_1500W.jpg

Crew shot 

_The crew of the Fram2 mission. From left to right: Mission Specialist Rabea Rogge, Vehicle Pilot Eric Philips, Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen and Mission Commander Chun Wang._

FRAM2 was the first human spaceflight to explore Earth from Space flying over the North and South Pole. It launched from Florida into a 90°
circular orbit around Earth at an altitude of 425-450km.

The North and South Poles were invisible to astronauts on the International Space Station, as well as to all previous human spaceflight missions except for the Apollo lunar missions but only from far away. To date, the highest inclination achieved by human spaceflight has been the Soviet Vostok 6 mission, at 65°. This new flight trajectory unlocked new possibilities for human spaceflight.

The crew observed Earth’s polar regions at an altitude of 425–450 km. At this altitude, they flew from the North Pole to the South Pole in just 46 minutes and 40 seconds, exactly 30 times faster than the One More Orbit mission did in 2019, when crew member Jannicke Mikkelsen and her team circumnavigated the Earth in a Gulfstream G650ER and set the Guinness World Record.

Throughout the 4-day mission, the crew observed Earth’s polar wilderness through Dragon’s cupola, leveraging insights from space physicists and citizen scientists to study unusual light emissions resembling auroras.

The crew studied green fragments and mauve ribbons of continuous emissions comparable to the phenomenon known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), which has been measured at an altitude of approximately 400–500 km above Earth’s atmosphere.

The crew also conducted a variety of research to better understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body and developed tools to prepare humanity for future long-duration spaceflight, from capturing the first human x-ray images in space to Just-in-Time training tools to the effects of spaceflight on behavioural health.

Image courtesy of SpaceX and FRAM2 

About Jannicke 

Jannicke is a film director and cinematographer living on Svalbard, specializing in fringe-technology, creating next-generation technology for movies shot in remote and hazardous environments such as the Arctic, ocean, aviation, and space. In 2019, Jannicke served as Payload Specialist on the record-breaking polar circumnavigation flight One More Orbit mission in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.



Jannicke Mikkelsen

As a filmmaker, I have long dreamed of the day sci-fi movies would become reality. Now, a new space age is upon us. People like you and me have specialised knowledge and skills valuable to space missions. It is our time to become astronauts and explore beyond Earth.

About Rabea

Rabea is a robotics researcher from Berlin, currently pursuing her PhD in Norway. She has always been fascinated by extreme environments, studying them to understand the limits of our world — and to push beyond them. Her work includes leading a satellite mission and researching ocean robotics in the Arctic, reflecting her commitment to advancing technology in both polar regions and space.

About Eric

Eric is a professional polar adventurer and guide, having completed numerous ski expeditions to the North and South Poles. He is co-founder of the International Polar Guides Association and co-creator of the Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme, which has earned him international recognition and respect.

About Chun 

Chun’s journey into blockchain began in 2011. He co-founded f2pool and stakefish, which are among the largest Bitcoin mining pools and Ethereum staking providers.

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Submit your questions to the crew of the Fram2 mission

Share your video questions here. Please limit the size of each video to no more than 250MB. 

Any children captured on video must have clearance for use, not only the ootiboo digital platform and social media but also the potential of international media outlets covering the project.

Watch the Fram2 crew answer 12 winning questions from students about space, while orbiting the Earth!

**KS2-4**🌍


ootiboo has gone to space! On Monday 31 March the Fram2 mission launched from Florida, USA. While in orbit the crew answered questions from school children about space. 

**Visit the Winners in Space! tab below, to see videos of the astronauts answering the student's questions, while in orbit.**

Cinematographer and host of [eCo: Glaciers](https://play.ootiboo.com/projects/glaciers) Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway completed her next big adventure as an astronaut on the Fram2 space mission, the first human spaceflight to fly over both polar regions.

The Blue Marble

The Blue Marble

About

Jump In

Winners in Space!

The view outside

Shivansh, Warren Road Primary School, UK

Mia, Mater Boni Consilii St Joseph School Paola, Malta

Mimi, Brabourne C of E Primary School, UK

Madeline, Fairlawn Primary School, UK

Sophie, Windhoek International School, Namibia

Alicia, Escola da Criança Espaço de Adolescer, Brazil

Max, St Peter's C of E Primary School, UK

Tallara, Bishop Druitt College, Australia

Anayah, Hillcross Primary School, UK

Karl, Berlin Metropolitan School, Germany

Laura, Escola da Criança Espaço de Adolescer, Brazil

Archie, West Exmoor Federation, UK