SpaceX has carried out five private astronaut missions to date -- three in collaboration with Axiom Space to the ISS, and two free-flying in Earth orbit.
A bitcoin investor who bought a SpaceX flight for himself and three polar explorers blasted off Monday night on the first rocket ride to carry people over the North and South poles.
NASA and other space agencies avoid polar orbits for humans for a number of reasons, including the increased risk to astronaut health posed by flying over the poles, and the added radiation that involves.