Blue Origin said on Tuesday it was aiming to launch its New Shepard suborbital rocket next week, the first mission since an uncrewed crash in September 2022 set back Jeff Bezos' space company.

"We're targeting a launch window that opens on Dec. 18 for our next New Shepard payload mission," the company tweeted on X, adding the flight would contain 33 science and research payloads, as well as 33,000 postcards.

The Federal Aviation Administration in September announced it had closed its probe into last year's crash, ordering the company to carry out 21 corrective actions before it could resume launches.

Stargazers will have a chance to enjoy one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year later this week, as the Geminids reach their peak.

Under perfect conditions, up to 150 meteors an hour could light up the night sky from Thursday into Friday (December 14–15), although the majority of observers can expect to see closer to 40 or 50 an hour as long as skies are clear.

Most meteor showers are caused by comets but the Geminids are unusual because they originate from the debris of an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.

They also have a greenish hue when they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, rather than being colorless or white like other meteors. This is because of their chemical composition—oxygen, magnesium and nickel usually produce a green color.

The good news for skywatchers is that the arrival of a new moon that is just 1% illuminated should make for ideal viewing conditions, because there will less light pollution to weaken what should be a dazzling show.