On Wednesday, Blue Origin successfully carried out an uncrewed certification mission of its second New Shepard ship. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the company as it looks to effectively double the number of tourists it can fly to suborbital space and back.
A New Era for Space Tourism
The RSS Kármán Line capsule, named after the imaginary boundary at 100 kilometers of altitude separating the atmosphere from space, launched from Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site at 8:27 a.m. PT. This was the 27th flight of a New Shepard launch vehicle since 2015, and all previous missions used the same capsule, the RSS First Step. The new capsule has brought 43 people to the edge of space since crewed missions started in 2021.
New Upgrades and Improvements
The vehicle included some new upgrades to improve performance and reliability, according to Blue Origin. These upgrades also include improved payload accommodations on the booster. The booster carried five payloads for this mission, while seven additional payloads were placed inside the capsule. While Blue Origin did not release details on all the payloads, McNeece said all but one were technology demonstrations developed in-house.
Lidar Sensors and Navigation Systems
Two different lidar sensors for the ‘lunar permanence’ program were among the payloads carried by the booster. Additionally, a navigation system for both New Shepard and New Glenn, Blue Origin’s first orbital rocket, was also included. The New Glenn rocket is expected to launch before the end of the year.
Technical Issues Scrubbed Launch Attempts
The successful launch followed two attempts scrubbed due to technical issues on October 7 and October 13. The booster separated from the capsule roughly four minutes after take-off, with the capsule autonomously gliding back to Earth under a parachute around six minutes later.
Expansion of Flight Capacity
Blue Origin said this new capsule will expand ‘flight capacity to better meet growing customer demand.’ However, it’s unclear what launch cadence the company is expecting to meet in the coming months.
Implications and Future Plans
The successful completion of this mission marks a significant step forward for Blue Origin as it continues to develop its capabilities in space tourism. With the introduction of this new capsule, the company is well-positioned to meet growing demand for suborbital flights.
Blue Origin’s Growth and Expansion
Under the leadership of Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin has made significant strides in developing its New Shepard launch vehicle. The company’s focus on reliability, performance, and customer experience has paid off with this successful mission.
What’s Next for Blue Origin?
As the space tourism industry continues to grow, Blue Origin is well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for suborbital flights. With this new capsule, the company can effectively double its flight capacity, making it a leader in the industry.
Key Players and Their Roles
- Jeff Bezos: Founder of Blue Origin
- Maggie McNeece: Spokesperson for Blue Origin
Conclusion
The successful completion of this uncrewed certification mission marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin. With its new capsule, the company is well-positioned to meet growing demand for suborbital flights and expand its flight capacity.
Additional Reading:
- Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes Successful Uncrewed Certification Mission
- Blue Origin’s RSS Kármán Line Capsule
References:
- Blue Origin. (2022). New Shepard Completes Successful Uncrewed Certification Mission.
- NASA. (2022). What is the Kármán Line?
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