Blue Origin Reveals Next Customers To Go On Space Trip And Its Launch Date
Image via Blue Origin
As SpaceX’s Inspiration4 completes the first all-civilian spaceflight, Blue Origin is also gearing up to launch more humans into orbit. Though, the latter’s mission isn’t quite as lengthy.
Jeff Bezos’ ambitious venture will be embarking on its first crewed mission since the founder climbed onboard back in July. Come October 12, the firm’s New Shepard rocket will set off again into the cosmos.
(From left) Dr Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries. Image via Blue Origin
Four “customers” will be traveling to space, with two of them having been revealed.
The first is Dr Chris Boshuizen, a former Space Mission Architect at NASA’s Ames Research Center. He had helped to invent the NASA Phonesat, a satellite created out of a smartphone.
Alongside him will be Glen de Vries, the current Vice-Chair of Life Sciences and Healthcare at Dassault Systèms, which pioneers clinic research trials. He’s also a licensed private pilot, which should come in handy when learning how to fly the spacecraft.
“This is a fulfillment of my greatest childhood dream. More importantly, though, I see this flight as an opportunity to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM and catalyze the next generation of space explorers,” said Boshuizen.
The trip, which will be similar to the one Bezos took, will last about 10 to 12 minutes. According to SlashGear, the capsule will take the crew above the Kármán Line, where “space” is thought to begin.
During the flight, the crew will be able to experience weightlessness for several minutes, before returning to Earth using parachutes.
For more information on New Shephard’s 18th mission, head here.
[via SlashGear, images via various sources]
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