On Tuesday, July 20th, history was made as Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-38 completed its first crewed flight into space. The six passengers on board, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, experienced a few minutes of weightlessness and had the incredible opportunity to see Earth from a whole new perspective before safely returning to West Texas.
The launch of New Shepard NS-38 marked a significant milestone for Blue Origin, as well as for the future of space tourism. The capsule was launched from Blue Origin’s launch site in Van Horn, Texas, with the New Shepard rocket reaching an altitude of roughly 66 miles above Earth. The six passengers were able to see the curvature of our planet and the vastness of the universe before the capsule safely descended back to Earth with the help of parachutes.
The crew consisted of Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, 82-year-old aviator Wally Funk, and 18-year-old student Oliver Daemen. Wally Funk, who became the oldest person to ever travel to space, was part of the “Mercury 13” group of women who underwent the same testing as NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts in the 1960s but were never given the opportunity to fly to space. This flight gave her the long-awaited chance to fulfill her dream of becoming an astronaut.
The flight also made history by including the youngest person to ever travel to space, Oliver Daemen, who replaced the anonymous winning bidder of the Blue Origin auction, who had to delay their trip due to scheduling conflicts. This unexpected turn of events made Daemen the first paying customer of Blue Origin, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to making space accessible to all.
The crew spent a total of 11 minutes and 10 seconds in the capsule, experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness and being able to witness the breathtaking views of Earth from space. This brief but unforgettable experience left a lasting impression on the six passengers, who were all smiles as they emerged from the capsule after landing.
Not only was this launch a significant achievement for Blue Origin, but it also marks a new era in space tourism. With this successful mission, Blue Origin has shown that space travel is no longer exclusive to highly trained astronauts, but it is slowly becoming a reality for the average person.
The New Shepard rocket and capsule have been designed to be reusable, making space travel more economical and environmentally friendly. This sets a strong foundation for the future of commercial spaceflight and opens the door for more companies to follow in Blue Origin’s footsteps.
Blue Origin’s founder Jeff Bezos spoke about the experience, stating that “this flight is a step towards a future where millions of people will be living and working in space.” His vision for the future of space travel and exploration is truly inspiring and shows the potential for what humanity can achieve by pushing the boundaries of what was once thought impossible.
This successful flight also serves as a reminder of the importance of continued innovation and progress in the field of space exploration. Blue Origin’s advancements in reusable rocket technology and their focus on making space travel accessible to everyone will undoubtedly inspire other companies to do the same.
The launch of New Shepard NS-38 was a monumental moment not only for Blue Origin and the six passengers on board but for the whole world. It marks the beginning of a new era in space travel and shows that with determination and innovation, anything is possible.
As we look to the future, we can only imagine the endless possibilities that space travel holds. Thanks to companies like Blue Origin, the dream of exploring the universe is becoming a reality, and the potential for discovery and progress is limitless. It is a time to celebrate this incredible achievement and be motivated by the possibilities that lie ahead.
