Space exploration company Blue Origin successfully launched its 35th mission using the New Shepard rocket, following a considerable period of postponement.
Blue Origin Successfully Launches Uncrewed Mission NS-35
Blue Origin has successfully launched its 35th New Shepard suborbital mission on September 18, marking the first attempt since the initial delay on August 23. The uncrewed flight, named NS-35, carried more than 40 scientific payloads, including experiments from NASA's TechRise Student Challenge and Club for the Future's postcards.
The mission, which lasted 10 to 12 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown, took place from Blue Origin's West Texas site. The New Shepard booster descended for a safe landing 2 miles downrange of the launch pad, while the capsule descended under parachutes for a touchdown at T+10:15.
Among the payloads on NS-35 were 24 from the NASA TechRise Student Challenge. Student teams from Purdue University and the University of Florida participated in Blue Origin's NS-35 mission, conducting experiments that included testing fluid dynamics in microgravity and studying the impact of space conditions on human cells.
The New Shepard vehicle, which consists of a reusable first-stage rocket and a reusable capsule, has reached above the Karman Line, a widely recognized boundary at 62 miles up (100 kilometers), on previous flights. To date, over 200 scientific payloads have been lofted by New Shepard, with more than 40 on NS-35.
Blue Origin has a history of conducting crewed flights, with 14 out of 34 missions featuring astronauts. The company made headlines earlier this year with the crewed flight NS-34 on August 3, carrying Justin Sun and five other individuals. Blue Origin has also flown celebrities such as Katy Perry and William Shatner on crewed flights.
NS-35's successful launch marks a significant step forward for Blue Origin's mission to make space more accessible for research and exploration. With over 200 scientific payloads lofted to date, the company continues to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in suborbital spaceflight.
