Blue Origin Space Trip: 6 Passengers Reach Edge of Space
- blue Origin successfully launched its 12th passenger flight Saturday, sending six individuals to teh edge of space aboard the New Shepard spacecraft.
- the crew included Panamanian attorney Jaime Alemán, who previously served as ambassador to the United States.
- The hydrogen-fueled New Shepard booster lifted off from the company's west Texas site at 9:39 a.m.
Blue Origin‘s New Shepard spacecraft successfully launched its 12th passenger flight, carrying six individuals to teh edge of space. This suborbital journey offered passengers a taste of weightlessness and breathtaking views of our planet, with the capsule reaching nearly 65 miles above Earth. The crew included a former Panamanian ambassador and citizens from the US, Canada, and New Zealand. The reusable New Shepard booster returned to the launch site, while the capsule landed safely in the West Texas desert.As reported by News Directory 3,Blue Origin continues to be the leader in suborbital space tourism,launching dozens of passengers since 2021. what are the company’s plans for larger orbital vehicles? Discover what’s next in space exploration.
Blue Origin completes 12th passenger flight to space
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blue Origin successfully launched its 12th passenger flight Saturday, sending six individuals to teh edge of space aboard the New Shepard spacecraft. The suborbital flight provided a few minutes of weightlessness and stunning views before returning to Earth.
the crew included Panamanian attorney Jaime Alemán, who previously served as ambassador to the United States. “It was such an amazing ride, very moving, very spiritual,” Alemán said after the flight. “Even better than I ever imagined.”
The hydrogen-fueled New Shepard booster lifted off from the company’s west Texas site at 9:39 a.m. EDT, reaching speeds of over 2,000 mph before releasing the crew capsule. The capsule, featuring large windows, continued to an altitude of nearly 65 miles, crossing the internationally recognized boundary of space.
Along with Alemán, the crew included Americans Aymette Medina Jorge, gretchen Green, and Paul Jeris, Canadian Jesse Williams, and Mark Rocket from New Zealand. They experienced approximately three minutes of weightlessness during the capsule’s upward coast.
The reusable New Shepard booster returned to the launch site, landing seven minutes after liftoff. The capsule descended under parachutes, touching down in the West Texas desert after a 10-minute flight.
“You guys, we did it!” exclaimed one of the passengers after landing.
Since July 2021, when Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos flew on the New Shepard, the company has launched 68 passengers, with four flying twice. The cost per seat is estimated to be upwards of $500,000. Jorge’s seat was sponsored by Farmacias Similares.
Blue Origin has been the sole provider of suborbital passenger flights since Virgin Galactic,founded by Richard Branson,paused flights in June 2024 to develop upgraded Delta-class spacecraft. Virgin Galactic is expected to resume flights next year.
What’s next
Blue Origin plans to continue its suborbital passenger flights, offering more individuals the chance to experience space. The company is also working on developing larger orbital vehicles for future space missions.