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Blue Origin Sets Sights on Feb. 25 for Milestone 10th Space Tourism Launch

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Saturday, February 22, 2025 | Chimniii Desk

Van Horn, Texas – February 22, 2025 – Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, is gearing up for a historic milestone as it targets Tuesday, February 25, for its 10th crewed space tourism launch. The mission, dubbed NS-30, will mark the 30th overall flight of the company’s reusable New Shepard rocket and capsule system, a testament to Blue Origin’s growing presence in the burgeoning space tourism industry.



The launch is scheduled to lift off from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, with the window opening at 9:30 a.m. CST (15:30 UTC). The event will be broadcast live, allowing space enthusiasts worldwide to witness six passengers embark on a brief yet exhilarating journey to the edge of space and back. This suborbital flight will see the crew cross the Kármán line—100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth—where they will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and stunning views of our planet before safely returning under parachutes.



A Diverse Crew Ready for the Final Frontier


Blue Origin recently unveiled five of the six crew members set to make the trip, showcasing a mix of adventurers, entrepreneurs, and professionals eager to etch their names in spacefaring history. The announced passengers include:


  • Lane Bess, a venture capitalist and founder of Bess Ventures and Advisory, who will become one of the few individuals to fly on New Shepard twice, having previously launched on the NS-19 mission in December 2021.

  • Jesús Calleja, a renowned Spanish TV host, pilot, and mountaineer who has conquered the Seven Summits and explored remote corners of the globe.

  • Elaine Chia Hyde, an entrepreneur and physicist bringing a blend of innovation and scientific curiosity to the mission.

  • Richard Scott, a reproductive endocrinologist whose medical expertise adds a unique dimension to the crew.

  • Tushar Shah, a hedge fund partner rounding out the eclectic group.



The identity of the sixth crew member remains under wraps, fueling speculation and excitement among followers of Blue Origin’s endeavors. The company has promised further details closer to the launch date.



A Symbol-Rich Mission Patch


Accompanying the announcement of the target date, Blue Origin revealed the NS-30 mission patch, rich with symbolism reflecting the crew’s diverse backgrounds. The design features a mountain honoring Calleja’s mountaineering feats, alongside other elements representing the passions and achievements of the soon-to-be space travelers. The patch serves as a visual tribute to the human spirit of exploration that Blue Origin aims to champion.



A Growing Legacy in Space Tourism



Founded by Amazon magnate Jeff Bezos in 2000, Blue Origin has steadily built its reputation in the space tourism sector with the New Shepard vehicle, named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space. The company’s first crewed flight took place on July 20, 2021, when Bezos himself soared to the edge of space alongside his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and student Oliver Daemen. Since then, nine crewed missions have carried a mix of paying customers, celebrities, and researchers beyond Earth’s atmosphere.



The NS-30 mission comes on the heels of Blue Origin’s recent achievements, including the successful inaugural orbital launch of its much larger New Glenn rocket in January 2025. While New Glenn is designed to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in the satellite launch market, New Shepard remains the cornerstone of Blue Origin’s space tourism ambitions, offering a reusable and reliable platform for suborbital flights.



Overcoming Challenges


Blue Origin’s journey hasn’t been without hurdles. A 2022 engine failure grounded New Shepard for nearly two years, raising questions about the company’s pace compared to rivals like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. However, uncrewed flights resumed in December 2023, followed by a triumphant return to crewed missions in May 2024. The upcoming NS-30 launch underscores Blue Origin’s resilience and commitment to making space accessible to more people.



What to Expect on Launch Day



The NS-30 mission will follow a familiar yet awe-inspiring script: the New Shepard rocket will propel the crew capsule to an altitude exceeding 65 miles, powered by its hydrogen-fueled BE-3 engine. After engine shutdown, the capsule will coast to its apogee, giving passengers a brief window of microgravity before descending back to Earth. The booster will land vertically at the launch site, while the capsule touches down under parachutes, completing a roughly 10-minute journey.



Weather permitting, the live stream will begin 30 minutes before liftoff, offering viewers a front-row seat to this latest chapter in commercial spaceflight. Blue Origin has not disclosed ticket prices for NS-30, though past missions have hinted at a premium cost for the privilege of joining the spacefaring elite.




A Vision for the Future



Jeff Bezos has long envisioned a future where millions live and work in space, a goal he’s pursued by pouring billions of his personal fortune into Blue Origin. The NS-30 mission is a small but significant step toward that vision, proving that space tourism is no longer a novelty but a repeatable reality. As the company ramps up its New Glenn program and prepares for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions, Blue Origin is positioning itself as a multifaceted player in the new space race.




For now, all eyes are on February 25, when six more individuals will join the exclusive club of space travelers, and Blue Origin will celebrate a decade of crewed flights with its 10th launch. Whether you’re a space aficionado or a casual observer, this milestone promises to be a moment of wonder—and a reminder of humanity’s relentless drive to reach for the stars.