Six adventurous tourists achieved a remarkable feat by venturing into the outer reaches of space on Sunday. This incredible journey marked their transformation into bona fide astronauts, signifying the triumphant return of space exploration company Blue Origin after a hiatus of almost two years. This significant milestone comes after a previous setback involving an unsuccessful test flight without a crew.
The New Shepard flight, scheduled for launch at 9:36 a.m. local time, took off from Launch Site One, owned by Jeff Bezos, situated approximately 30 miles north of the town of Van Horn in Culberson County. The launch facilities are located on a private ranch in West Texas.
“A successful crewed mission is now in the books,” announced the NASA-awarded company on X as the rocket took off.
The rocket, which carries both cargo and humans on short trips to the edge of space, has been unable to fly since a mission in Texas in fall 2022 ended in failure just a minute after liftoff. The incident resulted in the rocket’s capsule, which was filled with NASA experiments, being forcibly ejected mid-flight, as reported by The El Paso Times, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), no injuries were reported when the rocket crashed back to earth. The FAA has also stated that it will be launching an investigation into the incident.
Who was the crew on the Blue Origin launch?
According to a post on its website, Blue Origin has successfully launched 37 individuals into space with the New Shepard spacecraft, including the crew from today’s mission.
The NS-25 mission marked the company’s seventh flight so far, with a crew comprised of Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Ken Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura. Notably, former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate in the United States, also joined the team.
‘Forever changed’
The video posted by Blue Origin on X, titled “Forever changed,” captures a significant moment during the mission. In the footage, the crew can be seen unbuckling themselves and floating freely in the cabin.
During zero gravity, the crew members engage in various activities. Some pass a hockey puck between each other, while others exchange high fives. There are also those who enjoy spinning in circles. This is evident in the footage captured.
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New Shepard Senior Vice President Phil Joyce expressed his gratitude to the astronaut customers for granting them the privilege to offer such a transformative experience. He acknowledged them as pioneers who are actively contributing to Blue Origin’s mission of creating a pathway to space for the betterment of our planet.
In the past year, the FAA concluded its review of the New Shepard investigation and mandated numerous changes for Blue Origin to implement before their next mission. These changes encompassed a range of areas, such as an engine redesign and adjustments to the organization’s structure.
