Blue Origin is a private spaceflight company founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. The company is headquartered in Kent, Washington, and has a launch site in West Texas. Blue Origin's goal is to make space travel accessible and affordable for commercial customers.
What is the New Shepard rocket?
The New Shepard rocket is a suborbital reusable rocket developed by Blue Origin. The rocket is named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American to travel into space. The New Shepard is designed to carry six passengers on a 10-minute journey to the edge of space and back.
How does the New Shepard rocket work?
The New Shepard rocket is powered by a BE-3 liquid hydrogen-fueled engine. The engine produces 110,000 pounds of thrust, which is enough to lift the rocket and its passengers to an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles). The rocket then returns to Earth under its own power and makes a soft landing.
What is the capsule that carries the passengers?
The capsule that carries the passengers is called the Crew Capsule. The Crew Capsule is equipped with six seats, a large window, and a variety of controls. The capsule is also equipped with a parachute that is used to safely land the passengers back on Earth.
When is the first crewed flight of the New Shepard rocket?
The first crewed flight of the New Shepard rocket is scheduled for July 20, 2021. The flight will carry Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, and four other passengers. The flight will be a major milestone for Blue Origin and will mark the first time that a private company has launched humans into space.
What does the future hold for Blue Origin?
After the successful launch of the New Shepard rocket, Blue Origin plans to focus on developing a larger rocket called the New Glenn. The New Glenn rocket will be capable of carrying payloads of up to 13 metric tons (29,000 pounds) to low Earth orbit. Blue Origin also plans to build a space station called the Orbital Reef. The Orbital Reef will be a commercial space station that will be used for research, tourism, and other purposes.
