Blue Origin successfully completes third crewed mission to space, its first at full capacity

[Shawn Knight]

What just happened? Blue Origin has just completed its third crewed mission to space. The flight was significant as it marked the first time Blue Origin has flown with a full capacity of six passengers onboard. Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-19 was originally slated for liftoff on December 9, but inclement weather pushed the flight back to Saturday morning.

The six passengers included Laura Shepard Churchley, the oldest daughter of NASA astronaut Alan Shepard, who was the first NASA astronaut to fly in space. The New Shepard spacecraft is named after him.

Dylan Taylor is the chairman and CEO of space exploration company Voyager Space. He also founded the nonprofit Space for Humanity and is a co-founding patron of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Lane Bess is the founder of tech-focused venture fund Bess Ventures and Advisory. Accompanying Lane was his son, Cameron Bess, described as a variety streamer on Twitch.

Evan Dick is an engineer and investor, as well as a volunteer pilot for Starfighters Aerospace. Michael Strahan, perhaps the most famous person Blue Origin has sent to space outside of William Shatner and founder Jeff Bezos, is a Super Bowl-winning former NFL player and television personality.

According to Space.com, Churchley and Strahan flew as guests of Blue Origin, while the others paid for their seats.

The mission seemingly went off without a hitch. After having watched several of these now, what’s remarkable as an onlooker is just how quickly the whole thing is over. The main rocket ride itself lasts roughly two-and-a-half minutes, and the astronauts only get to experience zero gravity for roughly three minutes before having to strap back in for descent. From start to finish, it lasts just over 10 minutes.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/92594-blue-origin-successfully-completes-third-crewed-mission-space.html

 

[captaincranky]

Considering the vehicle looks like a phallus, and the ride is as long as the average sex act, (10 minutes), I'd still opt for a date with a high end escort.

On the upside, at least it isn't over in 2 minutes, with an angry wife demanding a washer dryer combo for her trouble, or an angry girlfriend demanding an engagement ring....

What the hell do you mean, "sorry it went off halfway through the countdown"?
...

 

[Hexic]

Considering the vehicle looks like a phallus, and the ride is as long as the average sex act, (10 minutes), I'd still opt for a date with a high end escort.

On the upside, at least it isn't over in 2 minutes, with an angry wife demanding a washer dryer combo for her trouble, or an angry girlfriend demanding an engagement ring....

What the hell do you mean, "sorry it went off halfway through the countdown"?
...

…The average is 10 minutes?

Oh.. Well then. Good on those Olympians.

 

[seeprime]

At some point the public will realize that the media is simply pushing off what is essentially a "toe in the water, instead of a swim in the ocean", as a space mission. It's jumping up and falling down, only using a rocket.

 

[p51d007]

The government should go back to giving "astronaut" wings...BUT, only to those that make at least ONE revolution of the Earth. This is just a "jump up" and come down event. Hey, if he gets enough people to PAY for it, none of my business, but ORBITING the Earth should be the requirement for the "wings".

 

[Puiu]

At some point the public will realize that the media is simply pushing off what is essentially a "toe in the water, instead of a swim in the ocean", as a space mission. It's jumping up and falling down, only using a rocket.

At least SpaceX can actually do multi-day space flights.

 

[captaincranky]

At some point the public will realize that the media is simply pushing off what is essentially a "toe in the water, instead of a swim in the ocean", as a space mission. It's jumping up and falling down, only using a rocket.

"Toe in the water", doesn't even begin to describe the mindlessness of these missions. But, the media has to have something to say, which amounts to a flood of free advertising for Amazon.

The reality of the "complexity" of these, "missions", takes us back to the era of, "let's shoot a monkey downrange, to see if it's safe for a human".(Circa 1961) Here, meet "Ham":

Ham, the First Chimpanzee in Space

savethechimps.org

 

[netman]

$500,000 a pop for a mini space poke ride....! That is $50 grand a minutes...!!!

 

[DrSuess]

At least SpaceX can actually do multi-day space flights.

Two different space craft with two different goals. Space X launches require trained astronauts/specialist for a multiday mission, Blue Origin flights require two weeks of training and the passengers do not operate a single system during flight. One space craft goes to space and the other goes to space-ish. Not a real comparison.

 

[Puiu]

Two different space craft with two different goals. Space X launches require trained astronauts/specialist for a multiday mission, Blue Origin flights require two weeks of training and the passengers do not operate a single system during flight. One space craft goes to space and the other goes to space-ish. Not a real comparison.

A few months of training isn't that much for a true civilian (no prior training) and they can definitely shorten it.

Photos show how SpaceX's first civilian crew trained by climbing Mount Rainier and flying jets. They launch Wednesday.

The Inspiration4 crew has climbed Mount Rainier and endured a 30-hour simulation inside a Crew Dragon spaceship. They're finally ready for launch.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[mbk34]

It's a hell of an expensive ride but hell, if I had the spare cash, I'd go.