Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket is back in action! Discover the historic flight that took a 90-year-old passenger to the edge of space after a nearly two-year hiatus

1. Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket Returns To
Space Tourism After Hiatus
(Source – NewsBytes)
Blue Origin’s tourism rocket, New Shepard, has successfully launched passengers to the edge
of space for the first time in nearly two years. This marks the end of a hiatus that began after
a failed uncrewed test flight. The New Shepard rocket and capsule lifted off at 9:36 a.m. CT
(10:36 a.m. ET) from Blue Origin’s facilities on a private ranch in West Texas.
The mission, designated NS-25, is Blue Origin’s seventh crewed flight and carried six
passengers: venture capitalist Mason Angel; Sylvain Chiron, founder of the French craft
brewery Brasserie Mont-Blanc; software engineer and entrepreneur Kenneth L. Hess; retired
accountant Carol Schaller; aviator Gopi Thotakura; and Ed Dwight, a retired US Air Force
captain selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to be the nation’s first Black astronaut
candidate.
Ed Dwight’s Historic Journey
Ed Dwight’s inclusion in this mission is particularly significant. Although Dwight completed
training at the Aerospace Research Pilot School and received an Air Force recommendation,
he did not ultimately join the NASA Astronaut Corps. Instead, he pursued a career as an
entrepreneur and sculptor. His story is featured in a new National Geographic documentary
on Black astronauts, “The Space Race.”

2. In the documentary, Dwight reflects on his unexpected journey to the edge of space: “I had
no intention of being an astronaut. That was the last thing on my bucket list,” he said. “But
once I was given the challenge, then everything changed.”
At 90 years old, Dwight became the oldest person to reach the edge of space, a milestone
highlighted by a Blue Origin spokesperson. After the capsule touched down at 9:46 a.m. CT
(10:46 a.m. ET), Dwight shared his feelings on the experience during Blue
Origin’s livestream: “I thought I didn’t need it in my life. But I lied. I really, really did need
it. It’s a life-changing experience. Everybody needs to do this.”
The Mission’s Success and Technical Details
The rocket booster landed safely a few minutes before the capsule, ensuring a smooth end to
the mission. During their journey, the crew experienced speeds exceeding 2,000 miles per
hour, or more than three times the speed of sound. The rocket-propelled the capsule past the
Kármán line, an internationally recognized boundary of outer space situated 62 miles (100
kilometers) above Earth’s surface.
At the peak of the flight, passengers enjoyed a few minutes of weightlessness and
breathtaking views of Earth through the capsule’s windows. This successful mission followed
the triumph of an uncrewed science mission in December, marking the first flight of the New
Shepard program since the previous mishap.
Blue Origin’s return to space tourism underscores the resilience and enduring appeal of
commercial space travel. As the industry continues to grow, such missions offer a glimpse
into the future of accessible space exploration for civilians.