Chun Wang, a crypto entrepreneur and a Maltese citizen, is set to become the first Maltese passport holder to venture into space.

Originally from China, Mr Wang obtained Maltese citizenship in 2023 through the golden visa scheme. Now, he is preparing for a groundbreaking journey as part of SpaceX’s latest mission, scheduled for late March, according to Times of Malta.

At 42, Mr Wang will lead a team of four on a privately funded spaceflight, named Fram2. This mission will take an unprecedented path, orbiting Earth over the polar regions from north to south - something never before attempted by a civilian crew.

Mr Wang and his fellow astronauts, hailing from Norway, Germany, and Australia, have spent two months undergoing rigorous training at SpaceX’s headquarters in California.

They have followed the same preparation program as NASA astronauts to ensure they are ready for the challenges of space travel.