New Shepard

New Shepard is a vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL), crew-rated suborbital launch vehicle created by Blue Origin as a way to boost space tourism.[1]

New Shepard
rocket and spacecraft developed by Blue Origin
Has use
Manufacturer
Country of origin
  • United States Edit this on Wikidata
Size
Stages
  • BE-3 Edit this on Wikidata

In 2021, the first fully automated spaceflight with civilian passengers, was launched with a New Shepard rocket.[2]

The name New Shepard is named after the first American astronaut in space, Alan Shepard, one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts.[3]

History

Blue Origin planned its first crewed test flight - Blue Origin NS-16 - to occur in 2019, which was however delayed until 2021.[4]

The first passenger flew on 20 July 2021 having purchased the seat at auction for $28 million;[5] however, this auction passenger later dropped out and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen was selected to fly.

References
  1. Doug Mohney (7 May 2015). "Will Jeff Bezos Speed Past Virgin Galactic to Tourist Space?". TechZone360.
  2. Howell, Elizabeth (18 July 2021). "Blue Origin launch will be the 1st fully automated flight with civilian astronauts: report". Space.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. Jonathan Amos (30 April 2015). "Jeff Bezos conducts New Shepard flight". BBC.
  4. Chris Bergin, NASASpaceflight.com, 28 November 2018
  5. "$28M is winning bid for seat aboard Blue Origin's 1st human space flight". ABC News. 12 June 2021.
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