The NS-25 mission was a triumphant return to form for Blue Origin, following a setback in 2022 when an uncrewed research flight experienced an engine nozzle malfunction, causing the New Shepard capsule to abort and parachute to a safe landing. The incident led to a period of investigation and repair, grounding the rocket until the issue was resolved.
This time around, the New Shepard performed flawlessly, carrying astronauts Mason Angel… Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight on an 11-minute journey to the edge of space. Dwight, 90, made history by becoming the first Black astronaut candidate selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, although he never had the opportunity to fly during his time in the program.
His seat on the mission was sponsored by a nonprofit organization. The actual cost of experiencing the thrill of space travel on a Blue Origin mission ⁙⁙⁙ unknown… although reports suggest prices could range from $500,000 to much higher. For those willing to take the plunge, the New Shepard offers an unforgettable journey, taking astronauts 100 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, providing breathtaking views of the curvature of the planet.
As Blue Origin continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and tourism, it’s clear that the company is committed to ensuring the safety and success of its missions. With its impressive track record and commitment to innovation, “Blue Origin is poised to continue making history in the world of space travel.” Source: ReadWrite provides valuable information on the latest developments in space technology and exploration, “keeping readers up-to-date on the latest advancements and breakthroughs.”
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The Future of the Space Industry
The widely discussed private space missions financed by billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are only part of a far larger development in the space industry, where the focus is shifting from government agencies to private companies. In April 2024, the World Economic Forum published a study forecasting that, “Lower costs and improved access to space-enabled technologies such as communications; positioning, navigation and timing; and Earth observation services could take the global space economy to US$1.8 trillion by 2035, up from US$630 billion in 2023.”
In 2022, the global space economy was worth US$546 billion, of which the commercial sector accounted for around 78 percent or US$427.6 billion. Private companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and (soon) Stoke Space are playing an increasingly important role. Hundreds of companies are now active in the space sector, and the competition between rocket manufacturers to find the cheapest solutions for launching satellites has led to dramatic cost reductions. “Thanks to private space travel, the cost of a rocket launch is now only a fifth of what it was 15 years ago,” says space-travel expert Robert Zubrin.
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Quillette – Free Thought Lives
Jonathan Kay speaks with ‘Morning After the Revolution’ author Nellie Bowles about her journalistic adventures amid progressive true believers and ideological enforcers.
We have lost the words that we could once call upon to justify diversity of thoughts, desires, viewpoints, and policy preferences, as opposed to a diversity of demographic groups.
We hear much talk of “aligning AI with human values” but relatively little delineation of what these values are.
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