Blue Origin has announced that their next suborbital spaceflight, known as NS-26, is set for August 29th. This flight will mark the company’s eighth crewed mission and will include a total of six spacefliers. Among the crew are Nicolina Elrick, a philanthropist and entrepreneur, Rob Ferl, a professor specializing in how living organisms respond to extreme conditions, Eugene Grin, a real estate and investment manager, Eiman Jahangir, a cardiologist and professor, Karsen Kitchen, a college senior majoring in communications and astronomy, and Ephraim Rabin, a businessman and entrepreneur.
The upcoming NS-26 mission will feature a variety of crew members with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Professor Rob Ferl will be conducting an experiment designed to study gene activity in plants in microgravity, supported by NASA research grants. Eiman Jahangir, a cardiologist, has participated in analog astronaut missions and will be sponsored by MoonDAO. Karsen Kitchen, a college student, is the founder of Orbitelle, an initiative to encourage women to pursue careers in the space industry. Ephraim Rabin, a businessman and philanthropist, is the founder and CEO of Parchem Fine & Specialty Chemicals.
The flight profile for the NS-26 mission is expected to follow the pattern set by Blue Origin’s previous suborbital space missions. The New Shepard rocket will launch from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, with live coverage of the mission available on Blue Origin’s website. The crew capsule will cross the 100-kilometer Karman Line, providing crew members with a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of the earth from space before parachuting back to the ground in West Texas. The mission is expected to take a little over 10 minutes from launch to landing.
The crew for the NS-26 mission includes a diverse group of individuals, including a philanthropist, a professor, a cardiologist, a college student, and a businessman. The mission is set to take place on August 29th and will be the company’s eighth crewed mission. The flight profile for the mission is expected to follow the pattern of previous suborbital space missions, with the New Shepard rocket launching from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One and the crew capsule crossing the 100-kilometer Karman Line before parachuting back to the ground in West Texas.
The NS-26 mission will include crew members who bring a range of expertise and experience to the flight. Professor Rob Ferl will be conducting experiments on gene activity in plants in microgravity, while Eiman Jahangir will be sponsored by MoonDAO and Karsen Kitchen will be representing Orbitelle, an initiative to encourage women to pursue careers in the space industry. The mission is expected to last a little over 10 minutes from launch to landing and will provide crew members with a unique opportunity to experience weightlessness and observe the earth from space.
Overall, the NS-26 mission by Blue Origin is set to be an exciting and diverse spaceflight experience. With crew members from various backgrounds and areas of expertise, the mission will offer a unique opportunity for research and exploration. The mission is set for August 29th and will mark Blue Origin’s eighth crewed mission, continuing the company’s efforts in suborbital space travel. The flight profile is expected to be similar to previous missions, with the crew capsule crossing the 100-kilometer Karman Line before parachuting back to the ground in West Texas.
