Blue Origin has donated a New Shepard rocket booster and capsule to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, with plans to display the historic hardware in renovated galleries opening in 2026. The booster, known as Propulsion Module 4-2, was utilized for five uncrewed flights, with the intention of retiring it for museum display after its final test in 2016. Despite predictions that the test would destroy the booster, it survived and has since been exhibited at various events, including at Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket factory in Florida.
The donated rocket booster is now being prepared for display in the National Air and Space Museum’s RTX Living in the Space Age Hall, alongside other Space Age artifacts. The Blue Origin crew capsule, known as RSS First Step, has also been donated to the museum after carrying the first people to ride the New Shepard to space in 2021. The curator of the museum expressed excitement for the exhibit, which will highlight the historical significance of these space vehicles and artifacts.
The crew capsule RSS First Step remains in service, most recently launching a crew of six on a suborbital space trip in August. Blue Origin is now preparing a new capsule, the RSS Karman Line, to join the New Shepard fleet. When First Step is decommissioned, it will be displayed in the museum’s Futures in Space gallery, focusing on advancements in space exploration technology and enterprise. Blue Origin’s CEO expressed anticipation for the exhibit and the impact it will have on visitors dreaming about their own space journeys.
The donation of historic space artifacts to the Smithsonian is not new to the Seattle area. Jeff Bezos previously funded the recovery of hardware from Apollo 11’s Saturn V rocket, now on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen also donated SpaceShipOne, the rocket plane that won the Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight in 2004, to the museum. These artifacts join a collection of space history at the National Air and Space Museum, including rockets, spacecraft, and other significant achievements in space exploration.
The National Air and Space Museum’s upcoming exhibit featuring Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket booster and crew capsule will showcase the evolution of space exploration technology from the mid-20th century to the present. The inclusion of these artifacts in the museum’s galleries will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about and appreciate the advancements made in space travel over the years. Blue Origin’s donation signifies a commitment to preserving and sharing the history of space exploration with future generations.
The display of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket booster and crew capsule at the National Air and Space Museum represents a significant contribution to the museum’s collection of space artifacts. These historic pieces of hardware, used in pioneering space missions, will serve as a reminder of the innovation and progress achieved in the field of space exploration. The exhibit will inspire visitors to explore the possibilities of space travel and imagine the future of human spaceflight.
