Blue Origin Launches William Shatner to Space

Blue Origin Achieves Second Successful Crewed Spaceflight

Blue Origin has now completed two successful crewed launches, having recently transported a four-person crew, featuring actor William Shatner, on a journey to space and back. The launch originated from the company’s facilities located in West Texas.

Mission Details: NS-18

Designated NS-18, this mission represents the fifth rocket launch undertaken by Blue Origin this year and the eighteenth in the company’s history overall.

The flight roster included William Shatner, renowned for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek.” Also aboard were Audrey Powers, Blue Origin’s Vice President of New Shepard Mission & Flight Operations; Chris Boshuizen, a co-founder of Planet Labs and a partner at DCVC; and Glen de Vries, the co-founder of Medidata Solutions, a clinical trial software firm.

A New Record for Space Travel

At 90 years of age, Shatner has become the oldest individual to venture into space, surpassing the previous record held by Wally Funk, who participated in Blue Origin’s prior launch in July at the age of 82.

The launch commenced at approximately 10:50 AM ET. The rocket subsequently exceeded the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized demarcation of space. During this phase, the crew experienced several minutes of weightlessness.

Following the suborbital flight, the capsule executed an autonomous landing utilizing a parachute system, returning to the launch site roughly 11 minutes after liftoff. Simultaneously, the booster stage achieved a controlled, autonomous landing near the launchpad.

Implications for Space Tourism

This successful launch is a positive development for Blue Origin as it strives to become a prominent force in the expanding space tourism sector.

However, the company, established in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, has faced recent challenges. Late last month, a collective essay penned by 21 current and former employees surfaced, detailing allegations of sexual harassment and concerns regarding workplace safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged these allegations. In a statement to TechCrunch, the FAA indicated that it is actively reviewing the information provided.

Competition in the Space Tourism Market

Blue Origin is not alone in pursuing space tourism opportunities. The company faces competition from Virgin Galactic, led by Richard Branson, which also completed a successful crewed launch earlier this year, and SpaceX, which sent the Inspiration4 crew on a three-day space mission in September.