A Successful Flight for Starship Today...

SpaceX

Cool image. I look forward to seeing a similar shot of Starship (minus the Raptor engines firing since the vehicle will already be parked in low-Earth orbit) as well as Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander from aboard the Orion capsule on NASA's Artemis 3 mission next year!

Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the 13th flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/g27YJCQgiN

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 24, 2026

THE ASTRONAUTS FOR ORION'S SECOND CREWED FLIGHT HAVE BEEN REVEALED...

NASA / Bill Stafford

NASA Marches Toward Artemis III Mission in 2027, Names Crew Members (News Release)

Taking another step towards one of the most complex human spaceflight missions in recent history, NASA on Tuesday provided new Artemis III details and announced the four prime crew members and a backup for the test flight. The mission will undertake a series of challenging tests in Earth orbit in 2027, essential for Artemis IV, the first planned crewed mission to the lunar South Pole in 2028.

During Artemis III, the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket will launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to low-Earth orbit. After Orion systems checkouts, the spacecraft will, for the first time, demonstrate rendezvous and docking capabilities with test versions from one, or both, American commercial Human Landing Systems in development by Blue Origin and SpaceX. This highly-choreographed mission includes a dramatic multi-launch campaign of the world’s most powerful rockets, testing integrated hardware between Orion and the landers, including system interfaces, software, propulsion and communications.

Crew assignments are as follows:

-- NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, commander
-- ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilot
-- NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, mission specialist
-- NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, mission specialist

As part of Tuesday’s event, NASA astronaut Bob Hines was named as a backup crew member. The crew will begin training immediately on Orion spacecraft systems, as well as assist in the development and operations of the test versions of Blue Origin and SpaceX landers.

“Today we take another bold step in humanity’s return to the Moon, building on the extraordinary foundation laid by the Artemis II astronauts,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Their achievements reignited global excitement for exploration, and now they pass the torch to the Artemis III team, Randy, Luca, Frank and Andre. Artemis III will demonstrate the power of American innovation and international partnership as we test complex rendezvous and docking operations and advance the technologies that will one day carry us deeper into the Solar System.

“This mission will require the most awe-inspiring coordination of heavy-lift rocket launches in history, drawing on the talent and capability of teams across government and the spaceflight community. The Artemis III astronauts, alongside ESA and our international partners, and the tens of thousands of the best and brightest across the agency and industry, are ushering in a new Golden Age of exploration carrying forward the hopes and dreams of the next generation just as the Apollo astronauts did for so many of us.”

This is also the first time that an ESA astronaut has been assigned to an Artemis mission.

“Artemis III will push the boundaries of spacecraft operations in orbit. Luca’s assignment as pilot reflects the depth of European expertise in human spaceflight and draws on his extensive operational experience in high-pressure situations,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s director general. “At the same time, ESA’s European Service Module will once again provide the critical capabilities that power Orion, demonstrating Europe’s enduring role at the very heart of the Artemis program. The news out of Houston today is a powerful recognition of ESA’s role in enabling humanity’s return to the Moon – and a key advancement in our partnership with NASA. Europeans can take pride in being part of this exciting journey.”

Mission progress

NASA and its partners are making progress preparing for the test flight.

Engineers will connect the Orion crew module and service module this summer and integrate the spacecraft’s docking system, which will fly for the first time. Heat shield testing continues with individual blocks having undergone ultra-sonic inspections and installation onto the heat shield structure.

Rocket processing is also well underway. Technicians for SLS are integrating the engine section to the rest of the core stage ahead of installing the four RS-25 engines this summer. With all solid rocket booster segments now at NASA Kennedy and Mobile Launcher refurbishments on track, rocket stacking is also scheduled to begin this summer.

NASA continues design and fabrication of a spacer that will replace the upper stage on Artemis III.

Blue Origin is developing a crewed lunar version of the company’s Blue Moon lander, while SpaceX is developing a crewed lunar lander version of the company’s Starship, with both companies building test articles for Artemis III. NASA is supporting both lander providers hands-on throughout design, development, testing and evaluation, including sharing agency expertise and capabilities gained from previous missions.

In addition to status updates from NASA and both commercial partners, the agency discussed details during the event about the planned operations for Artemis III, which will support an increased mission cadence, ramp up production, and drive supply chain improvements for the Artemis program.

The Artemis III mission builds on the successful Artemis II flight completed in April and will help the agency prepare to send the first astronauts, Americans, to Mars.

Artemis III includes launching the world’s most powerful rockets in short order. Blue Origin’s lander pathfinder, which is able to stay in orbit for multiple weeks, will launch first and await the crew. NASA will send the astronauts aboard Orion by SLS to orbit Earth, before rendezvousing in space with the company’s lander test article and spending about two days docked together for tests and technology demonstrations, including entering the lander.

After completing docked operations with Blue Origin, Orion will detach and await Starship. SpaceX’s Starship pathfinder will launch and meet up with Orion to spend about a day connected for checkouts and testing. After that, Orion and its crew will undock and return home, safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean where a team from the U.S. Navy and NASA will recover the astronauts.

In total, the crew is expected to remain in space for about two weeks, with exact mission length to be determined in real-time based on launch, rendezvous and docked operations.

Source: NASA.Gov

New Details Emerge About the Next Flight of SLS...

NASA / Keegan Barber

NASA Outlines Preliminary Artemis III Mission Plans (News Release)

NASA is moving quickly to define next year’s Artemis III mission in Earth orbit, a crewed flight that will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between the agency’s Orion spacecraft and commercial landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. Since a February announcement adding an Artemis mission ahead of crewed landing missions to the Moon’s South Pole region, engineers have been evaluating mission profile options and operational considerations for Artemis III to ensure that the test flight helps the agency and its partners reduce risk ahead of the next Americans landing on the Moon during Artemis IV.

“While this is a mission to Earth orbit, it is an important stepping stone to successfully landing on the Moon with Artemis IV. Artemis III is one of the most highly complex missions NASA has undertaken,” said Jeremy Parsons, Moon to Mars acting assistant deputy administrator, NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate in Washington. “For the first time, NASA will coordinate a launch campaign involving multiple spacecraft integrating new capabilities into Artemis operations. We’re integrating more partners and interrelated operations into this mission by design, which will help us learn how Orion, the crew, and ground teams all interact together with hardware and teams from both lander providers before we send astronauts to the Moon’s surface and build a Moon Base there.”

The mission is planned to carry out a series of objectives designed to demonstrate critical systems needed for a future lunar landing. During the Artemis III mission, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket will launch the Orion spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with four crew members. Instead of using the interim cryogenic propulsion stage as the upper stage of the rocket, NASA will use a “spacer,” a representation of the mass and overall dimensions of an upper stage but without propulsive capabilities.

The spacer will maintain the same overall dimensions and interface connection points as the upper stage between the Orion stage adapter and launch vehicle stage adapter.

Design and fabrication activities for the spacer are progressing rapidly at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Material for the barrel section and the upper and lower rings is currently being machined at Marshall in preparation for upcoming welding operations.

After the rocket delivers Orion to orbit, the spacecraft’s European-built service module will provide propulsion to circularize Orion’s orbit around the planet in low-Earth orbit. This orbit increases overall mission success by allowing more launch opportunities for each element as compared to a lunar mission — SLS carrying Orion and its crew, SpaceX’s Starship human landing system pathfinder, and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 human landing system pathfinder.

Informed by Blue Origin and SpaceX capabilities, NASA is also defining the concept of operations for the mission. While some decisions are yet to be determined, astronauts could potentially enter at least one lander test article.

The crew will spend more time aboard Orion than during Artemis II, further advancing the evaluation of life support systems, and for the first time will demonstrate the docking system performance. The mission will inform lander rendezvous and habitation concepts and mission operations in preparation for future surface missions. The agency also plans to test an upgraded heat shield during Orion’s return to Earth to enable more flexible and robust reentry profiles for future missions.

Over the coming weeks, NASA will continue to refine specific plans for the flight, including a timeline for identifying astronauts to train for mission operations, options to evaluate Axiom’s AxEMU spacesuit lander interfaces ahead of lunar surface missions, mission duration, and potential science operations for the flight. NASA has asked for industry input on potential solutions to improve the communications with the ground during the mission since the Deep Space Network will not be used. The agency is also seeking both international and domestic interest in potentially flying CubeSats to deploy in Earth orbit, and may share other opportunities as the concept of operations for the mission is further defined.

As part of the Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA will send Artemis astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, establish an enduring human presence on the lunar surface, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Jess Ruffa

A full-scale prototype of the crew cabin of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew lander is now operational for training and testing at @nasa_johnson!

Read how we will be using this crew cabin for simulations to prepare for future Artemis missions >> https://t.co/Lo5tcckxUT pic.twitter.com/2OvYoXqyRZ

— NASA Marshall (@NASA_Marshall) May 8, 2026

First full stack of Starship V3 pic.twitter.com/l2s7U7ndCs

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 9, 2026

The Latest Update on an Artemis Lunar Lander...

NASA

Blue Origin Moon Lander Completes Testing at NASA Vacuum Chamber (News Release - May 4)

Also known as Endurance, MK1 is an uncrewed cargo lander funded by Blue Origin as a commercial demonstration mission to advance Human Landing System capabilities in support of NASA’s Artemis program. The tests in Chamber A represent a public-private partnership model, with Blue Origin conducting work through a reimbursable Space Act Agreement.

Endurance will demonstrate precision landing, cryogenic propulsion, and autonomous guidance, navigation, and control capabilities in support of future lunar surface operations. In addition to its primary objectives, MK1 will carry two NASA science and technology payloads under the CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative to the lunar South Pole region this year: the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies, an array of high-resolution cameras that will collect imagery of the interaction between the lander’s engine plume and the lunar surface during descent and landing, and the Laser Retroreflective Array, which helps orbiting spacecraft determine a more precise location using reflected laser light.

Through CLPS, NASA partners with American companies to deliver science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon, advancing understanding of the lunar environment and supporting future crewed missions as part of the agency’s Artemis campaign.

Testing in NASA Johnson’s Chamber A, one of the world’s largest thermal vacuum test facilities, enabled engineers to model the vacuum of space and the extreme temperature conditions that the spacecraft would experience during flight. By recreating these conditions on the ground, teams evaluated system performance and verified structural and thermal integrity prior to launch. NASA and Blue Origin will incorporate lessons learned from MK1’s design, integration and testing to support NASA’s future Artemis missions that will return American astronauts to the Moon.

MK1’s development contributes to technology maturation and risk reduction for future human-class systems, including Blue Moon Mark 2 (MK2), a larger crewed landing system designed to safely transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back, enabling sustained human exploration at the Moon’s South Pole region.

Testing of MK1 at NASA Johnson is enabled through the agency’s “front door” approach — a coordinated process that provides commercial partners access to NASA facilities and technical expertise while maintaining safety, mission assurance, and alignment with agency objectives.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Blue Origin


Blue Origin

America's Plan to Return Humans to the Moon Has Changed...

NASA

NASA Adds Mission to Artemis Lunar Program, Updates Architecture (News Release)

As part of a Golden Age of exploration and discovery, NASA announced on Friday that the agency is increasing its cadence of missions under the Artemis program to achieve the national objective of returning American astronauts to the Moon and establishing an enduring presence. This includes standardizing vehicle configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and undertaking at least one surface landing every year thereafter.

As teams prepare to launch Artemis II in the weeks ahead, the Artemis III mission, now in 2027, will be designed to test out systems and operational capabilities in low-Earth orbit to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028. This new mission will endeavor to include a rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, in-space tests of the docked vehicles, integrated checkout of life support, communications and propulsion systems, as well as tests of the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits. NASA will further define this test flight after completing detailed reviews between NASA and our industry partners.

The agency will share the specific objectives for the updated Artemis III mission in the near future.

NASA’s recently announced workforce directive is a key factor in enabling this acceleration. NASA will rebuild core competencies in the civil servant workforce including more in-house and side-by-side development work with our Artemis partners, enabling a safer, more reliable, and faster launch cadence.

“NASA must standardize its approach, increase flight rate safely, and execute on the President’s national space policy. With credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary increasing by the day, we need to move faster, eliminate delays, and achieve our objectives,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Standardizing vehicle configuration, increasing flight rate and progressing through objectives in a logical, phased approach, is how we achieved the near-impossible in 1969 and it is how we will do it again.”

“After successful completion of the Artemis I flight test, the upcoming Artemis II flight test, and the new, more robust test approach to Artemis III, it is needlessly complicated to alter the configuration of the SLS and Orion stack to undertake subsequent Artemis missions,” said NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya. “There is too much learning left on the table and too much development and production risk in front of us. Instead, we want to keep testing like we fly and have flown. We are looking back to the wisdom of the folks that designed Apollo.

"The entire sequence of Artemis flights needs to represent a step-by-step build-up of capability, with each step bringing us closer to our ability to perform the landing missions. Each step needs to be big enough to make progress, but not so big that we take unnecessary risk given previous learnings. Therefore, we want to fly the landing missions in as close to the same Earth ascent configuration as possible – this means using an upper stage and pad systems in as close to the ‘Block 1’ configuration as possible.

"We will work with our partners that have been developing the evolved block configuration of these systems to take proper actions to align their efforts towards this goal and announce the details of those changes once they are finalized. We will take a similar approach to in-space, landing and surface EVA operations as well, as we evolve the mission sequence in the spirit of the Apollo mindset, which was obsessed with system reliability and crew safety as the keys to mission success.”

“Boeing is a proud partner to the Artemis mission and our team is honored to contribute to NASA’s vision for American space leadership,” said Steve Parker, Boeing Defense, Space & Security president and CEO. “The SLS core stage remains the world’s most powerful rocket stage, and the only one that can carry American astronauts directly to the Moon and beyond in a single launch. As NASA lays out an accelerated launch schedule, our workforce and supply chain are prepared to meet the increased production needs. With a rocket designed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, built at America’s rocket factory at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and integrated at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, we are ready to meet the increased demand.”

The announcement came during a news conference at NASA Kennedy where leaders also discussed the status of the Artemis II mission. NASA rolled the SLS and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on February 25 for repairs ahead of the next launch opportunities for the test flight in April.

Once the Artemis II hardware was back in the VAB, teams immediately began work on the helium issue discovered on the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and prepared for several actions including replacing batteries in the flight termination system, end-to-end testing for range safety requirements, and more.

“I’m grateful to Administrator Isaacman for taking this bold step and moving quickly to assure we have the support and resources needed to launch Artemis astronauts to the Moon every year,” said Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Our team is up to the challenge of a successful Artemis II mission, and soon thereafter, enabling a more frequent cadence of Moon missions.”

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Cory S Huston

Blue Origin Will Temporarily Shift Focus from Suborbital Space to the Moon...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin to Pause New Shepard Flights for No Less Than Two Years (News Release - January 30)

Resources will be redirected to further accelerate lunar human flight program

Blue Origin announced today that it will pause its New Shepard flights and shift resources to further accelerate development of the company's human lunar capabilities. The decision reflects Blue Origin's commitment to the nation's goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence.

New Shepard is the first reusable spaceflight system to vertically land and has flown 38 times and carried 98 humans above the Kármán line to date. New Shepard has launched more than 200 scientific and research payloads from students, academia, research organizations, and NASA. This consistent and reliable performance, combined with an exceptional customer experience, has resulted in a multi-year customer backlog.

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin / Dave Limp


Blue Origin


Blue Origin

Blue Origin Continues to Make Space More Accessible to the Public with its Latest Suborbital Flight...

Blue Origin

New Shepard Completes 37th Mission (News Release - December 20)

Blue Origin successfully launched the 37th flight of the New Shepard program. The crew included: Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis and Jason Stansell. This mission marked the first time a wheelchair user has flown above the Kármán Line, the internationally-recognized boundary of space. Including the latest crew, New Shepard has now flown 92 people (86 individuals) into space.

“NS-37 marks our ninth flight of the year and sets the stage for an increase in New Shepard flight rate in 2026 and beyond,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard. “This crew exemplifies the breadth and diversity of people who can now experience spaceflight, from engineers and scientists to entrepreneurs, teachers and investors from all over the world. Each brings their unique perspective and passion for exploration. Michi's flight is particularly meaningful, demonstrating that space is for everyone, and we are proud to help her achieve this dream.”

New Shepard was designed with accessibility in mind. The vehicle is autonomous and features elevator access on the launch tower, making spaceflight accessible to a wider range of people. Including the latest flight, New Shepard has flown astronauts who are wheelchair users, hard of hearing, have limited mobility or limb differences, have low vision, or are legally blind.

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 8:15:00 AM CST / 14:15:00 UTC

Booster Apogee: 346,386 ft AGL / 350,033 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 346,775 ft AGL / 350,422 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 8:25:26 AM CDT / 14:25:26 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 26 seconds

Source: Blue Origin

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Space is for everyone. pic.twitter.com/OUs4V2LURA

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 20, 2025

Blue Origin Looks Ahead to Bigger Rockets and Beyond...

Blue Origin

New Glenn Update (News Release)

Upgraded Engines and Subcooled Components Drive Enhanced Performance

Blue Origin announced a series of upgrades to New Glenn designed to increase payload performance and launch cadence, while enhancing reliability. The enhancements span propulsion, structures, avionics, reusability, and recovery operations, and will be phased into upcoming New Glenn missions beginning with NG-3.

One of the primary enhancements includes higher-performing engines on both stages. Total thrust for the seven BE-4 booster engines is increasing from 3.9 million lbf (17,219 kN) to 4.5 million lbf (19,928 kN). BE-4 has already demonstrated 625,000 lbf on the test stand at current propellant conditions and will achieve 640,000 lbf later this year, with propellant subcooling increasing the current thrust capability from the existing 550,000 lbf.

The total thrust of the two BE-3Us powering New Glenn’s upper stage is increasing from the original design of 320,000 lbf (1,423 kN) to 400,000 lbf (1,779 kN) thrust over the next few missions. BE-3U has already demonstrated 211,658 lbf on the test stand.

These enhancements will immediately benefit customers already manifested on New Glenn to fly to destinations including low-Earth orbit, the Moon and beyond. Additional vehicle upgrades include a reusable fairing to support increased flight rates, an updated lower-cost tank design, and a higher-performing and reusable thermal protection system to improve turnaround time.

The next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket. Named after the number of engines on each stage, New Glenn 9x4, is designed for a subset of missions requiring additional capacity and performance. The vehicle carries over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, over 14 metric tons direct to geosynchronous orbit, and over 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection.

Additionally, the 9x4 vehicle will feature a larger 8.7-meter fairing.

Both vehicles: 9x4 and our current variant, 7x2, will serve the market concurrently, giving customers more launch options for their missions, including mega-constellations, lunar and deep space exploration, and national security imperatives such as Golden Dome.

Source: Blue Origin

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Dave Limp


Jeff Bezos

Another Crewed Suborbital Flight Is in the Books...

Dave Limp

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 34th Mission to Space (News Release)

Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its 14th human spaceflight and the 34th flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: Arvi Bahal, Gökhan Erdem, Deborah Martorell, Lionel Pitchford, J.D. Russell and H.E. Justin Sun, the winning bidder for the first New Shepard seat in 2021. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 75 people into space, including five people who have flown twice.

“It was an honor to see so many nations represented on our flight today,” said Phil Joyce, SVP, New Shepard. “The view of our fragile planet from space has a unifying effect on all who witness it, and I am always eager to see how our astronauts use this experience for the benefit of Earth.”

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 7:42:16 AM CDT / 12:42:16 UTC

Booster Apogee: 346,829 ft AGL / 350,476 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 347,191 ft AGL / 350,838 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 7:52:28 AM CDT / 12:52:28 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 12 seconds

Source: Blue Origin

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Reaching apogee. Seeing what unites us. pic.twitter.com/8xbnb6wdyo

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) August 3, 2025

Blue Origin Looks Ahead to Its Next Suborbital Passenger Flight...

Blue Origin

New Shepard’s Crewed NS-34 Mission Targets Liftoff on August 3 (News Release - July 30)

Blue Origin announced that its next New Shepard crewed flight, NS-34, will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Sunday, August 3. The launch window opens at 7:30 AM CDT / 12:30 UTC. The webcast on BlueOrigin.com will start at T-30 minutes.

Meet the Crew:

Arvinder (Arvi) Singh Bahal

Arvi is a real estate investor born in Agra, India, and is now a naturalized U.S. citizen. A lifelong traveler and adventurer, Arvi has visited every country in the world, the North and South Poles, and skydived over Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza. He holds a private pilot’s license and also flies helicopters.

Gökhan Erdem

Gökhan is a Turkish businessman and a board member of Erdem Holding, a diverse group of companies operating in the energy, telecommunications, construction and manufacturing sectors. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Gökhan is a passionate space enthusiast and an avid photographer. Deeply inspired by space exploration, he dreams of one day traveling to the International Space Station and possibly even beyond.

Deborah Martorell

Deborah is a Puerto Rican meteorologist and journalist. Her reporting on environmental and space topics has garnered eight Emmy Awards and two Awards of Excellence in Science Reporting from the American Meteorological Society. Her passion for space led her to participate in a 2007 microgravity flight with NASA, extensively cover Puerto Rican astronauts Joe Acabá and Marcos Berríos, and report on missions including STS-119, Artemis 1 and the launch of Puerto Rico's first nanosatellite, CuNARD-2.

Deborah was selected for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences’ project PoSSUM, and is also a Solar System Ambassador for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lionel Pitchford

Lionel is an Englishman who has spent the last four decades in Spain working as a teacher, translator and tour guide as a means to travel the world. In 1992, following a plane crash with his sister and her family onboard, Lionel founded a nonprofit in Nepal dedicated to serving disadvantaged children and girls. He’s also run an orphanage in Kathmandu for over 30 years.

Lionel has dreamed of flying to space since catching the travel bug and is astonished that it's now possible for ordinary people. He aims to inspire others by letting them know that they can do the same.

James (J.D.) Russell

J.D. is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Alpha Funds, a technology-focused venture capital company, and Alpha Aerospace, an aerospace consulting and solutions company. He founded the Victoria Russell Foundation to honor the memory of his deceased daughter. The foundation is dedicated to supporting children’s education and assisting the families of first responders.

The foundation is a proud partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to bring the love of reading to children by gifting books free of charge to children. J.D. first flew to space on NS-28 on November 22, 2024.

H.E. Justin Sun

H.E. Justin Sun is the Ambassador and former Permanent Representative of Grenada to the WTO, Prime Minister of Liberland, Founder of TRON, a world-leading blockchain and DAO, and Advisor to HTX, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges. A protege of Alibaba's Jack Ma, Sun was featured on the cover of Forbes Magazine in April 2025, where he was recognized as one of the most dynamic and outspoken figures in crypto and earning the moniker 'Crypto’s Billionaire Barker' for his bold approach to innovation, advocacy and industry leadership. He’s been named on Forbes' 30 under 30 list in the Consumer Technology category several times, among other global recognitions.

Justin is an avid art collector, gamer, investor, philanthropist and space enthusiast. In 2021, he placed the winning bid for the first seat on New Shepard. The $28 million in proceeds were donated to Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, which selected 19 space-focused nonprofits to each receive a $1 million grant to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEAM and help invent the future of life in space.

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin

Another Crewed Suborbital Flight Is in the Books...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 33rd Mission to Space (News Release)

Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its 13th human spaceflight and the 33rd flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: Allie Kuehner and her husband, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno, Jr., Owolabi Salis and Jim Sitkin. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 70 people to space, including four who have flown twice.

“One thing this crew shares in common is an appreciation of our planet’s beauty and the need to preserve it for future generations,” said Audrey Powers, VP, Mission and Flight Operations. “Thank you to our customers for entrusting us to provide this life-changing view. I look forward to seeing how you transform this experience into action.”

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 9:39:56 AM CDT / 14:39:56 UTC

Booster Apogee: 344,725 ft AGL / 348,372 ft MSL (105 km AGL / 106 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 345,044 ft AGL / 348,691 ft MSL (105 km AGL / 106 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 9:50:10 AM CDT / 14:50:10 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 14 seconds

Source: Blue Origin

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Welcome to apogee, where distance brings perspective. pic.twitter.com/GdekFCEpXw

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) June 29, 2025

Blue Origin Looks Ahead to Its Next Suborbital Passenger Flight...

Blue Origin

New Shepard’s Crewed NS-33 Mission Targets Liftoff on Saturday, June 21 (News Release)

Blue Origin announced that its next New Shepard crewed flight, NS-33, will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Saturday, June 21. The launch window opens at 8:30 AM CDT / 13:30 UTC. The webcast on BlueOrigin.com will start at T-30 minutes.

Meet the Crew:

Allie Kuehner

Allie is an environmentalist and dedicated conservationist with a passion for protecting natural ecosystems and wildlife for future generations. She serves on the board of Nature is Nonpartisan, a nonprofit organization advocating for bipartisan solutions to environmental challenges. Allie is an avid adventurer and explorer driven by a profound respect for nature and a desire to experience the wild places that they work to protect.

From remote landscapes to rugged terrain, Allie believes that firsthand exploration strengthens the case for thoughtful environmental stewardship.

Carl Kuehner

Carl serves as Chairman of Building and Land Technology (BLT), a real estate development, investment and property management firm dedicated to building communities and ecosystems that promote long-term growth and sustainability. Under his leadership, BLT has redefined urban development by integrating innovative design with a deep commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact. Deeply committed to conservation, Carl champions efforts to sustain, restore, and enhance wildlife and natural habitats, sustainable food systems, and environmental restoration projects through business strategy and philanthropic initiatives.

Carl's work reflects a belief that responsible development and social stewardship go hand in hand, creating a legacy that balances progress with purpose.

Leland Larson

Leland is a philanthropist and former CEO of School Bus Services, Inc. and Larson Transportation Services. Both are family-owned businesses based in Oregon focused on public transportation systems regionally and nationally. In 1997, Leland co-founded the Larson Legacy, a philanthropic foundation focused on supporting hundreds of progressive nonprofits domestically and internationally.

Early in his career, Leland was a teacher, worked in the Army counseling soldiers on their educational aspirations, and served as a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1968, which wrote the present-day Constitution of Hawaii. Leland is a passionate gardener and beekeeper, raises koi fish and chickens, and cherishes spending time with monks in the high mountains of Tibet.

Freddie Rescigno, Jr.

Freddie is an Italian-American entrepreneur, business owner and competitive golfer based in Suwanee, Georgia. He is President and CEO of Commodity Cables, a company he founded in 2001 that services the electrical distribution market for wire and cable needs. His passion for archeological discoveries is at the heart of his interest in space.

A lifelong golfer, Freddie has competed as an amateur at the state and national levels for 20 years. He is a father of three boys, who have inherited his same love for golf and Italian culture.

Owolabi Salis

Owolabi is an attorney and a financial consultant. He is the author of Equitocracy, which presents a vision for democracy that prioritizes equity among diverse groups. Owolabi is also a key member of The Soul Maker Ministry, which preaches diversity given the diverse nature of the Universe.

Owolabi is dedicating this mission to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations.

Jim Sitkin

Jim practiced law in California for four decades before retirement. His expertise focused on employment class actions on behalf of non-unionized employees, challenging industries that traditionally had rejected application of various employee protections. Jim is a volunteer for a global NGO, facilitating meetings with government and community leaders in Central Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

A lifelong adventurer, Jim has explored seven continents and has dreamt of space since he was a child growing up watching Star Trek. Jim and his wife, Sue, live in California with their very fat cat, Hickory.

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin

Another Crewed Suborbital Flight Is in the Books...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 32nd Flight, Has Now Flown 64 People to Space (News Release)

Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its 12th human spaceflight and the 32nd flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: K-12 STEM teacher Aymette Medina Jorge, radiologist-turned-explorer Dr. Gretchen Green, former Panamanian ambassador to the United States Jaime Alemán, businessman Jesse Williams, aerospace executive Mark Rocket, and entrepreneur Paul Jeris. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 64 people into space—including four who have flown twice—among them scientific researchers, educators, physicians, explorers and entrepreneurs.

“We thank our customers for trusting us to give them the opportunity to appreciate Earth’s fragility from above, an experience that truly transforms those who embark on it,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard. “We look forward to seeing what our remarkable crew will do with this experience. I am proud of our team’s dedication in making these moments possible.”

Named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, New Shepard is Blue Origin’s fully-reusable, autonomous suborbital rocket system built to fly humans and scientific payloads to space. The rocket is powered by one BE-3PM engine, which is fueled by a highly-efficient and clean combination of liquid hydrogen and oxygen. During flight, the only byproduct of New Shepard’s engine combustion is water vapor, with no carbon emissions.

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 8:39:11 AM CDT / 13:39:11 UTC

Booster Apogee: 339,963 ft AGL / 343,610 ft MSL (104 km AGL / 105 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 340,290 ft AGL / 343,937 ft MSL (104 km AGL / 105 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 8:49:18 AM CDT / 13:49:18 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 7 seconds

Source: Blue Origin

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Reaching apogee isn’t just the highest point during flight. It’s a defining moment. pic.twitter.com/MYGvD6QeS2

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) May 31, 2025

Blue Origin Looks Ahead to Its Next Suborbital Passenger Flight...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 32nd Mission (News Release)

Blue Origin today announced the six people flying on its NS-32 mission. The crew includes Aymette Medina Jorge, Dr. Gretchen Green, Jaime Alemán, Jesse Williams, Mark Rocket and Paul Jeris.

This mission is the 12th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 32nd overall. The live webcast on BlueOrigin.com will start at T-30 minutes. The flight date will be announced soon.

Meet the Crew:

Aymette (Amy) Medina Jorge

Amy is a high school and middle school STEM teacher at Odyssey Academy in Galveston, Texas. She has led more than 60 space experiments and Zero-Gravity projects, including flying biometric sensors developed by her students and performing in-flight 3D printing as part of a parabolic Zero-G flight. Born in Puerto Rico, Amy’s mission is to boost Hispanic representation in STEM fields and push for greater inclusion in science for underrepresented communities.

Amy is the 2023 AIAA and Challenger Center Trailblazing STEM Educator Award recipient, which celebrates educators who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators in STEM. Her seat is sponsored by Farmacias Similares, a Mexican company committed to social impact and accessible healthcare across Latin America.

Dr. Gretchen Green

Dr. Green is a radiologist specializing in women’s imaging with over 20 years of clinical experience. An educator, explorer and lifelong space enthusiast, she first attended Space Camp in 1986, later worked as a Crew Trainer, chaired the Space Camp Alumni Association, and now serves on the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation Board. Nationally recognized as a medicolegal expert witness and entrepreneur, she founded The Expert Resource to help physicians build expert witness businesses and improve patient care.

A certified life coach, Dr. Green empowers others to pursue their highest purpose. At 16, she bicycled across the U.S. to fight hunger and, in 2022, reached the North Pole. Dr. Green trained at Harvard, Yale, and Brown, earning degrees in neuroscience, history of medicine, and medicine from Brown, and is a proud graduate of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

Jaime Alemán

Jaime is a Panamanian attorney, businessman and former ambassador to the United States. A Notre Dame and Duke Law School graduate, Jaime serves as a Senior Partner at Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee, a law firm that he co-founded in 1985, and sits on the board of directors of one of Panama’s largest private banks. He serves on Special Olympics International’s Board of Directors, Duke Law School's Board of Visitors, and the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Latin America Board.

A lifelong adventurer, Jaime will become the first person to travel to all 193 U.N.-recognized countries, the North and South Poles, and space.

Jesse Williams

Jesse is a Canadian entrepreneur and adventurer. He started his first digital marketing business at age 16 and currently serves as CEO of Car History Group, which he founded in 2012. A competitive cyclist and avid mountaineer, Jesse has summited six of the seven highest peaks on Earth, including Mt. Everest and Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson.

Mark Rocket

Mark is an entrepreneur and technology leader from Christchurch, New Zealand. He is CEO of Kea Aerospace, which develops solar-powered, stratospheric UAVs for aerial imaging and monitoring, and President of Aerospace New Zealand, whose mission is to promote the interests of the New Zealand aerospace community. He was a seed investor in Rocket Lab, where he served as co-Director until 2011.

Paul Jeris

Paul is a real estate developer and entrepreneur. Inspired by his NASA engineer father, Paul grew fascinated with space at a young age. He spent his childhood summers on Florida’s Space Coast, watching historic Apollo, Shuttle, Mariner, Voyager and Viking launches.

Driven by a passion for exploration, Jeris has visited more than 149 countries, aiming to see every nation. Despite his many adventures, Jeris' lifelong dream is to journey to space and witness Earth’s fragile beauty from above. In addition to his professional ventures, Paul actively serves on several local and regional tourism boards, giving back to the travel industry that has helped shape his life.

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin

Katy Perry and her All-Female Crew Successfully Embark on a Suborbital Flight Above Texas...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket Completes 31st Mission To Space (News Release)

Blue Origin successfully completed its 11th human spaceflight for the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez, who brought the mission together.

Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 58 people to space, including four people who have flown twice.

“What a privilege to witness this crew of trailblazers depart the capsule today,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President, New Shepard. “Each of these women is a storyteller who will use their voices—individually and together—to channel their life-changing experience today into creating lasting impact that will inspire people across our planet for generations. Thank you to this remarkable crew for uplifting so many on their historic journey toward the stars and back.”

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 8:30:00 AM CDT / 13:30:00 UTC

Booster Apogee: 346,481 ft AGL / 350,128 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 346,802 ft AGL / 350,449 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 8:40:21 AM CDT / 13:40:21 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 21 seconds

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin / Dave Limp

🔁 NS-31 liftoff! pic.twitter.com/NOfQebatsC

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025

That never gets old! A new perspective of the booster landing. pic.twitter.com/6rGHfRZE37

— Dave Limp (@davill) April 14, 2025

✨ Weightless and limitless. pic.twitter.com/GQgHd0aw7i

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025

A smooth landing in West Texas.

Book your flight on New Shepard: https://t.co/RP3Lixyr4Y pic.twitter.com/xPiu9LMtlH

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025

Photos of the Day: The Mini Mega-Moon Rocket Is Now Encased in Acrylic...

Richard T. Par

As promised in this blog post last New Year's Eve, here are images of the LEGO® Artemis 1 rocket after it was placed under an acrylic case that I purchased last December! The case was delivered to Southern California all the way from the United Kingdom courtesy of Wicked Brick last Monday, February 24...with me waiting over eight weeks for the package to arrive at my house. (The standard wait time according to an e-mail from Wicked Brick was approximately six weeks.)

The Artemis 1 rocket is now protected from dust like the LEGO Perseverance Mars rover that I got for Christmas in 2023. What isn't covered by a glass display is my mini-brick New Glenn rocket—which I built in late January.

Assuming that the lunar landing of Firefly Aerospace's actual spacecraft goes as planned tomorrow morning, I plan on ordering a mini-brick version of the Blue Ghost lander as well! You can buy your own set—which will consist of 196 pieces (compared to the 3,601 pieces for the Artemis 1 rocket and its Mobile Launcher; 1,100+ pieces for Perseverance; and 630 pieces for New Glenn)—on Firefly's online store.

Photos of the mini-brick Blue Ghost will be posted on my Main Blog after it is completed. Stay tuned!


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par

Katy Perry Will Be Among the Six All-Female Passengers Flying on the Next Suborbital Flight from Texas!

Blue Origin

Blue Origin Announces Crew For New Shepard’s 31st Mission (News Release)

Blue Origin today announced the six people flying on its NS-31 mission. The crew includes Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez, who brought the mission together. She is honored to lead a team of explorers on a mission that will challenge their perspectives of Earth, empower them to share their own stories, and create lasting impact that will inspire generations to come.

Meet the NS-31 Crew:

Aisha Bowe

Aisha is a former NASA rocket scientist, entrepreneur and global STEM advocate. She is the CEO of STEMBoard, an engineering firm recognized twice on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, and the founder of LINGO, an edtech company on a mission to equip one million students with essential tech skills. Of Bahamian heritage, Aisha hopes her journey from community college to space will inspire young people in the Bahamas and around the world to pursue their dreams.

Amanda Nguyen

Amanda is a bioastronautics research scientist. She graduated from Harvard, and conducted research at the Harvard Center for Astrophysics, MIT, NASA and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences. Amanda worked on the last NASA shuttle mission, STS-135, and the Kepler exoplanet mission.

For her advocacy for sexual violence survivors, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and awarded TIME’s Woman of the Year. As the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman astronaut, Amanda’s flight is a symbol of reconciliation between the United States and Vietnam, and will highlight science as a tool for peace.

Gayle King

Gayle is an award-winning journalist, co-host of CBS Mornings, editor-at-large of Oprah Daily, and the host of Gayle King in the House on SiriusXM radio. In a career spanning decades, King has been recognized as a gifted, compassionate interviewer able to break through the noise and create meaningful conversations. As someone who is staying open to new adventures, even ones that scare her, Gayle is honored to be part of Blue Origin’s first all-female flight team and is looking forward to stepping out of her comfort zone.

Katy Perry

Katy is the biggest-selling female artist in Capitol Records’ history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 115 billion streams. Aside from being a global pop superstar, Katy is an active advocate of many philanthropic causes, including as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador where she uses her powerful voice to ensure every child’s right to health, education, equality and protection, and her own Firework Foundation, which empowers children from underserved communities by igniting their inner light through the arts.

Katy is honored to be a part of Blue Origin's first all-female crew and hopes her journey encourages her daughter and others to reach for the stars, literally and figuratively.

Kerianne Flynn

After a successful career in fashion and human resources, Kerianne Flynn has spent the last decade channeling her energy into community-building through board service and nonprofit work with The Allen-Stevenson School, The High Line and Hudson River Park. Passionate about the transformative power of storytelling, Kerianne has produced thought-provoking films such as This Changes Everything (2018), which explores the history of women in Hollywood, and LILLY (2024), a powerful tribute to fair-pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter. Kerianne has always been drawn to exploration, adventure and space, and hopes her Blue Origin space flight serves as an inspiration for her son, Dex, and the next generation of dreamers to reach for the stars.

Lauren Sánchez

Lauren is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, pilot, Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, and mother of three. In 2016, Sánchez, a licensed helicopter pilot, founded Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned and operated aerial film and production company. Sánchez released her New York Times bestselling debut children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, in 2024.

Sánchez's work in aviation earned her the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award in 2024 for her expertise as a helicopter pilot and aviation businesswoman. Sánchez’s goal is to inspire the next generation of explorers.

This mission will be the 11th human flight for the New Shepard program and 31st in its history. To date, the program has flown 52 people above the Kármán line, the internationally-recognized boundary of space. This is the first all-female flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963.

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin

Another Successful Suborbital Flight Is in the Books...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 30th Mission to Space (News Release - February 25)

Blue Origin successfully completed its tenth human spaceflight and the 30th flight for the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included: Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Dr. Richard Scott, Tushar Shah and an undisclosed sixth crew member. Lane flew for the second time, the fourth New Shepard customer to do so.

Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 52 people into space, including repeat astronauts.

“There’s nothing like seeing the diversity among our crews, and this mission brought together people from all over the world—scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs and adventurers,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President, New Shepard. “It’s always inspiring to hear their unique perspectives about the life-changing impact of seeing Earth from space. Huge thanks to our customers for supporting our mission to build a road to space for the benefit of Earth.”

Source: Blue Origin

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We just completed our 10th human spaceflight and the 30th flight of the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Dr. Richard Scott, Tushar Shah, and an undisclosed sixth person. This was Lane’s second flight. To date, New… pic.twitter.com/expfP7vNpR

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) February 25, 2025

Leave gravity behind ✨ pic.twitter.com/3iPdOf6qLh

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) February 26, 2025

Key stats from today’s New Shepard crewed NS-30 mission:

The crew capsule reached an apogee of 345,769 ft AGL / 349,416 ft MSL (105 km AGL / 107 km MSL)

The booster reached an apogee of 345,404 ft AGL / 349,051 ft MSL (105 km AGL / 106 km MSL)

Official launch time was 9:49:11…

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) February 25, 2025

Five of the Six Passengers Who'll Fly on the Next Suborbital Flight from Texas Are Revealed...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 30th Mission (News Release)

Blue Origin today revealed five of the six people flying on its NS-30 mission. The crew includes: Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Dr. Richard Scott, Tushar Shah and an undisclosed sixth crew member. Lane is flying on New Shepard for the second time, the fourth astronaut to do so.

This mission is the 10th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 30th in its history. To date, the program has flown 47 humans above the Kármán line, the internationally-recognized boundary of space.

Meet the Crew:

Lane Bess

Lane is the Principal and Founder of Bess Ventures and Advisory, a family office fund supporting technology firms that innovate and disrupt across multiple market sectors. He has led and built some of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies, including Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler, both of which he helped lead to IPO.

Lane also serves as a Trustee at Carnegie Mellon University and supports philanthropic interests across health and social issues. Lane first flew to space on NS-19 on December 11, 2021.

Jesús Calleja

Jesús is a Spanish TV host, mountaineer, pilot and lifelong adventurer. He currently hosts Calleja Planet, Flying By and Calleja Universe, which air on Mediaset channels in Spain.

Jesús’ adventures have taken him to every corner of the world, including the Seven Summits, the North and South Poles, and numerous deserts, active volcanoes and ancient sinkholes. A passionate race car driver, Jesús has participated in numerous international racing competitions, including four editions of the Dakar Rally and a 3,400-mile journey from the French Pyrenees to Dakar, Senegal.

Elaine Chia Hyde

Elaine is an entrepreneur, physicist and pilot. She is the founder of Chicago Star, a news and media company, and Eastside Enterprises, a research and development company focused on AI-assisted media products.

Elaine was born in Singapore and grew up in Australia. Space has captivated her imagination since childhood. A graduate of the University of Melbourne, she studied business and physics with the goal of inventing experiments to be conducted in space.

Elaine soon immigrated to the United States, where she worked as an intern at the University of Pennsylvania and later became a research scientist. Elaine, her husband, also a physicist, and their five children live in Florida.

Dr. Richard Scott

Dr. Scott is a reproductive endocrinologist, embryologist, professor, research scientist, philanthropist, entrepreneur and avid pilot. He was a founding partner and CEO of IVIRMA Global, the world’s largest fertility care group with clinics and laboratories in 10 countries.

Dr. Scott is an adjunct professor at Yale University and the University of South Carolina (Greenville) Medical Schools, and founded The Foundation for Embryonic Competence, a nonprofit focused on reproduction research, where he also serves as Scientific Director. He has served on the national boards of Directors of the Resolve and the American Fertility Associations, the two largest patient advocacy organizations for fertility care.

Dr. Scott and his wife have been married for 45 years and have four children.

Tushar Shah

Tushar is a partner and the co-head of research at a quantitative hedge fund in New York City. He studied physics as an undergraduate at MIT and high-energy experimental particle physics for his PhD, also at MIT.

Tushar and his wife, Sara, are philanthropists focused on addressing issues related to poverty, health and education. They have two children.

The flight date will be announced soon.

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin

Another Successful Suborbital Flight from West Texas...

Blue Origin

Blue Origin Completes 29th New Shepard Mission, Successfully Simulates Lunar Gravity (News Release)

Blue Origin successfully completed its 29th New Shepard flight and 14th payload mission today from Launch Site One in West Texas. The payloads experienced roughly two minutes of lunar gravity forces. The New Shepard crew capsule used its reaction control system to spin up to approximately 11 revolutions per minute, simulating one-sixth Earth gravity at the midpoint of the crew capsule lockers.

The flight carried 30 payloads from NASA, research institutions and commercial companies, bringing the number of payloads flown on New Shepard to more than 175. Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s nonprofit, flew thousands of postcards as part of its Postcards to Space program. Each postcard will be returned to its creator stamped “Flown to Space.”

The Club has a digital method to create and send postcards, which can be found here.

Key mission statistics:

Official Launch Time: 10:00:00 AM CST / 16:00:00 UTC

Booster Apogee: 341,700 ft AGL / 345,347 ft MSL (104 km AGL / 105 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Apogee: 341,944 ft AGL / 345,591 ft MSL (104 km AGL / 105 km MSL)

Crew Capsule Landing Time: 10:10:06 AM CST / 16:10:06 UTC

Mission Elapsed Time: 10 minutes, 6 seconds

“New Shepard’s ability to provide a lunar gravity environment is an extremely unique and valuable capability as researchers set their sights on a return to the Moon,” said Phil Joyce, SVP, New Shepard. “This enables researchers to test lunar technologies at a fraction of the cost, rapidly iterate, and test again in a significantly compressed timeframe.”

A full replay of today’s flight is below.

Source: Blue Origin

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