Blue Origin Completes Third Crewed New Shepard Launch in Three Months

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard rocket on June 29 from its Launch Site One in West Texas, marking the company's 33rd suborbital mission and 13th crewed flight. The mission, designated NS-33, carried six passengers, including a married couple (Allie and Carl Kuehner) and Owolabi Salis, an attorney who had been disbarred in New York. After reaching an altitude of approximately 105 kilometers, the booster and crew capsule both landed safely within minutes of each other, with the capsule touchdown occurring under parachutes close to the booster. This flight followed multiple weather-related delays, including two scrubs due to high winds the previous week. Blue Origin continues to provide brief suborbital space tourism experiences lasting about 11 minutes, featuring moments of weightlessness and views of Earth from space. Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin's New Shepard program has flown over 60 individuals since its first crewed mission in 2021, competing in the private spaceflight market.