Blue Origin Flies Again with Its Seventh Crewed Mission
The company Blue Origin has successfully executed its seventh mission with people on board, named NS-25. This launch marks the end of a nearly two-year pause in operations following an issue with an uncrewed flight in 2022. The New Shepard took off from the company's private facilities in Texas. 🚀
The Mission Reaches Space and Returns in Minutes
The vehicle ascended to about 106 kilometers in altitude, crossing the recognized boundary of space known as the Kármán line. The six crew members were able to experience microgravity for several minutes and observe the curvature of the Earth. Afterward, the capsule began its return. The crew module landed with the aid of parachutes, while the booster stage performed a vertical autonomous landing for reuse. The entire event, from launch to touchdown, lasted just over ten minutes.
Key Flight Details:- Maximum altitude: Around 106 kilometers, exceeding the Kármán line.
- Total duration: Approximately ten minutes from takeoff to landing.
- Recovery: Both the capsule and the booster were recovered for future uses.
Suborbital space tourism is consolidating as a brief but intense experience, ideal for those who want to fulfill a dream without prolonged training.
A Historic Crew Member Among the Participants
The crew of this mission included Ed Dwight, a former test pilot. In the 1960s, he was selected to train as an astronaut but never made it to space. At 90 years old, he now becomes the oldest person to reach space. The group was completed by a businessman, the founder of a space technology startup, a bettor, and a financial sector executive. One seat was occupied by a guest whose name was not revealed.
Crew Profiles:- Ed Dwight: Former Air Force test pilot, now the oldest astronaut.
- Diverse composition: Includes profiles from business, technology, and finance.
- Anonymous guest: A last-minute participant who was not publicly identified.
The Landscape of Brief Space Tourism
This mission reinforces the model of suborbital space tourism as an accessible experience. It offers minutes of weightlessness without requiring weeks of intensive preparation. Although the company does not publicly disclose the exact cost per seat, it is estimated to amount to several hundred thousand dollars. This flight demonstrates the recovered reliability of the New Shepard system and its capacity to offer regular trips to the edge of space. 🌍