Blue Origin Resumes Space Launches with New Shepard's 35th Flight

In an exciting development for space enthusiasts, Blue Origin has successfully launched its 35th New Shepard mission after encountering a nearly four-week pause. This marks a pivotal moment for the private aerospace company, demonstrating its commitment to advancing suborbital flights.

On the morning of September 18, the unmanned NS-35 mission took to the skies from Blue Origin's facility in West Texas at 9:01 AM EDT (1301 GMT), captivating observers with its precision.

Science Takes Flight: Over 40 Payloads on Board

This latest flight wasn't just about ascending into the cosmos; it carried more than 40 scientific payloads, showcasing the innovation of young minds. Notably, 24 of these payloads stemmed from NASA's TechRise Student Challenge, a program that empowers middle and high school students to design and test their own science experiments in a real space environment.

Revolutionizing Space Travel: The New Shepard System

The New Shepard system boasts both a first-stage rocket and a reusable capsule, elevating it as a leader in the realm of suborbital space travel. Flying past the Kármán Line—the internationally recognized boundary of space located at 62 miles (100 kilometers)—the flights typically last between 10 to 12 minutes, providing a brief yet exhilarating experience.

A Safe Landing and a Bright Future

After a flawless launch, the New Shepard booster made a successful landing just 2 miles from the launch pad approximately 7.5 minutes post-liftoff. Meanwhile, the capsule gracefully descended with parachutes, touching down 10 minutes and 15 seconds after leaving the ground.

Delayed but Determined: Overcoming Technical Challenges

Originally slated for an August 23 launch, NS-35 faced setbacks due to avionics issues on the booster. Persistent in their pursuit, Blue Origin delayed the mission but came back stronger with today’s launch, emphasizing resilience in the face of adversity.

More Milestones Ahead: 200 Payloads Delivered

With the successful NS-35 mission, Blue Origin has now flown over 200 payloads, showcasing its pivotal role in advancing scientific research and education through space exploration. Additionally, the flight carried countless postcards from Club for the Future, an initiative promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) to inspire future generations.

Crewed Adventures Await

While the NS-35 mission was uncrewed, it's important to note that New Shepard has a track record of carrying people to the edge of space. Of its 34 previous missions, 14 included crewed flights, further enhancing its versatility in the evolving landscape of space travel.