Blue Origin, the space tourism and exploration firm founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, successfully launched a crewed mission on Sunday, sending six people to the edge of space from west Texas. This was the company’s first crewed mission since August of 2022, when flights were grounded due to an engine mishap. The NS-25 mission launched a New Shepard rocket carrying six individuals, marking the seventh time Blue Origin has taken people to the edge of space and back.
The crew included software engineer and entrepreneur Kenneth Hess, retired accountant and explorer Carol Schaller, aviator Gopi Thotakura, retired U.S. Air Force captain Ed Dwight, venture capitalist Mason Angel, and brewery founder Sylvain Chiron. Of note, Dwight, who is now 90 years old, was chosen by President John F. Kennedy to be the country’s first Black astronaut candidate. He completed training but was never selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps, making him the oldest person to go to space.
Blue Origin has successfully flown into space 37 times, with the first test rocket launching in 2006 and the first crewed flight taking place in August of 2021, with Bezos as a passenger. More than two dozen passengers have now been to space on a New Shepard vehicle, including William Shatner and former NFL star Michael Strahan. The company had sent six crewed flights to space before the August 2022 mishap, which prompted an FAA investigation and led to 21 corrective actions for Blue Origin. The crew on Sunday’s mission experienced weightlessness before returning to Earth under parachutes, making postcards as part of Blue Origin’s “Club for the Future” program.
Bezos, currently the second richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $202.4 billion, continues to lead Blue Origin in its efforts to make space tourism more accessible. The company’s successful launch on Sunday demonstrates its commitment to safe and reliable space travel, despite setbacks in the past. With a growing number of passengers experiencing the wonders of space through Blue Origin’s missions, the future of space exploration looks promising.
Sunday’s mission marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin and the crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket. As the company continues to expand its space tourism offerings, more individuals will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of traveling to the edge of space and back. With ongoing advancements in technology and safety measures, Blue Origin is paving the way for a new era of space exploration.
Overall, Blue Origin’s successful launch on Sunday reaffirms its position as a frontrunner in the space tourism industry. With a strong track record of successful missions and a commitment to innovation, the company is poised to continue making strides in making space travel more accessible to the public. As more individuals like the crew of the NS-25 mission experience the wonders of space, the possibilities for future missions and discoveries in space exploration are endless.
