Blue Origin’s latest space tourist mission was launched on June 4 at 9 a.m. EDT on the launch site near Van Horn, Texas. The rocket successfully carried and landed the crew of six people. It is Blue Origin’s fifth crewed flight. The passengers are “investor Evan Dick, a second-time flier on New Shepard; former NASA test lead Katya Echazarreta, business jet pilot Hamis Hardin; civil production engineer Victor Correa Hespanha; adventurer and investor Jaison Robinson; explorer and investor Victor Vescovo.”
The New Shepard capsule safely landed all the crew members. The New Shepard rocket returned to earth, landing on four legs by firing its engineer for a propulsive landing. This landing was the seventh launch and landing for the booster. According to the details, the capsule reached about 351,183 feet (107,040 meters) in space. It is said that with this launch Katya Echazarreta, Hamish Harding, Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson, and Victor Vescovo are the 623rd to 627th to fly within the US recognized boundary. That is at 40 miles (80 km) to become astronauts.
The rocket was launched at 9:25 EDT. The launch’s Mission Control for Blue Origin was Appollo 16 moonwalker Charlier Duke. Duke had a special message for the crew. “Congratulations on this flight that you’re about to embark on,” said Duke. “I know you’re going to have an exciting adventure, just as I did 50 years ago.” “Have a great ride and I look forward to seeing you when you get back. Godspeed,” he said.
Before the launch
After receiving a brief safety review, the six NS-21 space tourists have crossed the gantry and boarded “RSS First Step,” Blue Origin’s crew-configured capsule. Each crew member has their own window seat — the largest windows ever launched into space.
The six were riding to their rocket in electric Riven trucks. Once they reached Launch Site One, they climbed seven flights of stairs and cross a gantry to board New Shepard. After receiving a brief safety review, the six NS-21 space tourists then crossed the gantry. Then boarded “RSS First Step,” Blue Origin’s crew-configured capsule. Each crew member had their own window seat — the largest windows ever launched into space.
The launch had the first Mexican-born woman and youngest American woman to become a space tourist and the second Brazilian to fly into space. It also marks the start of Space for Humanity’s civilian astronaut program. It was with the non-profit sending its first sponsored leader on a mission to implement the overview effect here on Earth.