New Shepard's NS-25 crewed mission set for May 19 liftoff

Written by Copernical Team Wednesday, 15 May 2024 15:36

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 15, 2024

Blue Origin confirmed the launch of its seventh crewed flight, NS-25, from West Texas's Launch Site One, scheduled for Sunday, May 19. The launch window will open at 8:30 AM CDT / 1330 UTC, with the live webcast beginning 40 minutes prior on BlueOrigin.com. The mission will also feature the NS-25 mission patch, which includes several symbols: - "The Gemini spacecraft represents Ed Dw

New Shepard's NS-25 crewed mission set for May 19 liftoff
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 15, 2024

Blue Origin confirmed the launch of its seventh crewed flight, NS-25, from West Texas's Launch Site One, scheduled for Sunday, May 19. The launch window will open at 8:30 AM CDT / 1330 UTC, with the live webcast beginning 40 minutes prior on BlueOrigin.com.

The mission will also feature the NS-25 mission patch, which includes several symbols:

- "The Gemini spacecraft represents Ed Dwight's aerospace training era. The hand lifting the crew capsule is a nod to his extensive artwork."

- "The sunrise represents Mason Angel and Carol Schaller's desire to experience the overview effect."

- "The mountains symbolize Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, and Sylvain Chiron's passion for climbing and skiing."

- "The crew capsule's leaf design reflects the groundbreaking family heritage software Kenneth L. Hess developed."

The six-person crew for NS-25 includes Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, and Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate selected in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, who unfortunately never flew in space.

This flight marks the 25th mission of the New Shepard program, which has successfully carried 31 humans past the Karman line.

Each astronaut will carry a postcard into space for Blue Origin's Club for the Future. This initiative provides students space on Blue Origin rockets to send digital postcards, promoting careers in STEAM to benefit Earth.

Environmentally, New Shepard boasts a 99% reuse rate for its dry mass components like the booster and engine. The rocket's engine runs on liquid oxygen and hydrogen, emitting only water vapor during flight, ensuring no carbon emissions.