Blue Origin New Shepard Rocket Launches NASA Experiments, Targets Human Flights
Blue Origin successfully launches a suite of NASA experiments to the edge of space using its reusable New Shepard vehicle. The company aims to begin flying human passengers by the end of this year.
Blue Origin successfully launches a package of NASA experiments to the edge of space from West Texas using a reusable New Shepard booster. The single-stage rocket, powered by a BE-3 engine, climbs to an altitude of nearly 107 kilometers before the capsule separates and both vehicles begin their descent back to Earth.
The New Shepard booster deploys air brakes to slow down before reigniting its engine to touch down softly on a targeted landing pad. A few minutes later, the capsule containing the NASA research payloads parachutes safely to a nearby landing site, concluding the approximately 10-minute mission.
This mission marks the 10th flight of the New Shepard program and the fourth successful landing for this specific reusable booster. Blue Origin is currently preparing a fourth New Shepard rocket designed specifically to carry passengers, with company officials stating they aim to begin human flights by the end of this year.