West Texas, June 29 (V7N) — A week after being delayed, Blue Origin is once again preparing to launch its New Shepard rocket, potentially as early as this weekend. The mission, designated NS-33, will carry six passengers to the edge of space, offering them a fleeting but unforgettable experience.
 
This flight marks Blue Origin’s 13th crewed mission since 2021, when the company’s founder, billionaire Jeff Bezos, joined the spacecraft on its inaugural human journey. Since then, more than 60 people have flown aboard these short-duration missions, experiencing microgravity and breathtaking views of Earth from space.
 
The six new crewmembers—whose names are expected to be announced ahead of the launch—will ascend roughly 60 miles (about 100 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. During the 11-minute journey, they will enjoy several moments of weightlessness aboard the crew capsule and gaze at the curvature of the Earth, suspended in the vast blackness of space.
 
The New Shepard system is a fully autonomous suborbital rocket designed to carry humans and research payloads into space and return safely. The launch will take place from Blue Origin’s private facility in West Texas.
 
For those who can’t be on board, the event will be streamed live, allowing viewers around the world to watch as another group of civilians momentarily crosses the boundary between Earth and space.
 
Blue Origin’s growing roster of spaceflights signals an accelerating trend in commercial space tourism, with companies like Virgin Galactic and SpaceX also pushing boundaries in the new era of private space travel.
 
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