Sci/Tech Antarctica from first ever pole to pole orbit
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They painted them white when they heard this orbital exploration was about to happen.
Makes sense, they are a super intelligence.
my question is why is this the first time it ever happened.
It's a fair bit harder to get into a polar orbit as opposed to an equatorial orbit, costing a lot more fuel to do so. That's because the speed of the Earth's rotation is essentially free velocity, which is why every spacecraft launching previously launched in the same direction.
Extra fuel doesn't just cost money, it costs more weight - so you have to have more fuel to offset the extra weight of fuel.
When launching to space is so expensive, and every extra gram (or ounce for those using freedom units) costs more money, there was never really any reason to go for a polar orbit. The only reason this particular flight is in polar orbit is that it's a commercial operation, and the passengers paid extra to do so, presumably just for bragging rights.
"Oh yes darling we've been to space as well, but we went on a polar orbit."
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I'm working on that my friend