Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin is poised to launch its first orbital rocket next week, marking a pivotal moment in the commercial space race currently dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Named New Glenn, the rocket is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as soon as Wednesday 1:00 am (0600 GMT), with a backup window on Friday, according to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory.
While Blue Origin has not officially confirmed the launch date, excitement has been building since a successful "hotfire" test on December 27.
"Next stop launch," Bezos declared on X, sharing a video of the towering rocket's engines roaring to life.
The NG-1 mission will carry a prototype of Blue Ring, a US Defense Department-funded spacecraft envisioned as a versatile satellite deployment platform, which will remain on board the rocket's second stage for the duration of the six-hour test flight.
It will mark Blue Origin's long-awaited entry into the lucrative orbital launch market after years of suborbital flights with its smaller New Shepard rocket, which carries passengers and payloads on brief trips to the edge of space.
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"The market is really orbital," analyst Laura Forczyk, founder of Astralytical, told AFP. "Suborbital can only take you so far&mdash;there are only so many payloads and customers for a quick ride to space."
<h2>Space barons</h2>
The milestone will also escalate the rivalry between Bezos, the world's second-richest person, and Musk, the wealthiest, who has cemented SpaceX's dominance and is now in President-elect Donald Trump's inner circle.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets have become industry workhorses, serving clients from commercial satellite operators to the Pentagon and NASA, which relies on them to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Like Falcon 9, New Glenn features a reusable first stage designed to land vertically on a ship at sea.
The vessel, playfully named "So You're Telling Me There's a Chance," reflects the challenge of landing a reusable rocket on the first attempt, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said on X.
At 320 feet (98 metres), New Glenn dwarfs the 230-foot Falcon 9 and is designed to carry larger, heavier payloads. It slots between Falcon 9 and its larger sibling, Falcon Heavy, in cargo capacity while burning cleaner liquid natural gas rather than kerosene and relying on fewer engines.
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"If I were still a senior executive at NASA, I'd be thrilled to finally have some competition to the Falcon 9," G. Scott Hubbard, NASA's former "Mars Czar" now at Stanford University, told AFP, adding that increased competition could help drive down launch costs.
<h2>Politics at play</h2>
For now, SpaceX maintains a commanding lead, capturing the lion's share of the market while rivals like United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and Rocket Lab trail far behind.
Like Musk, Bezos has an enduring passion for space. But where Musk dreams of colonizing Mars, Bezos envisages populating the solar system with massive floating space colonies.
Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000&mdash;two years before Musk started SpaceX&mdash;but the company has progressed at a far slower pace, reflecting a more cautious approach.&nbsp;
"There's been impatience within the space community over Blue Origin's very deliberate approach," Scott Pace, a space policy analyst at George Washington University and a former member of the National Space Council, told AFP.
If successful, New Glenn will offer the US government "dissimilar redundancy" &ndash; alternative systems that provide backups if one fails, said Pace.&nbsp;
This could prove vital as SpaceX plans to retire Falcon 9 by the end of the decade in favour of Starship, a prototype that relies on not fully proven technologies.
Musk's closeness to Trump has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially with private astronaut Jared Isaacman&mdash;a business associate of Musk&mdash;slated to become the next NASA chief.
Bezos, however, has been making his own overtures, paying his respects to his former foe during a visit to the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago residence, while Amazon has said it would donate $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Science & Tech, World: While Blue Origin has not officially confirmed the launch date, excitement has been building since a successful "hotfire" test on December 27.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin is poised to launch its first orbital rocket next week, marking a pivotal moment in the commercial space race currently dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Named New Glenn, the rocket is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as soon as Wednesday 1:00 am (0600 GMT), with a backup window on Friday, according to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory. While Blue Origin has not officially confirmed the launch date, excitement has been building since a successful "hotfire" test on December 27. "Next stop launch," Bezos declared on X, sharing a video of the towering rocket's engines roaring to life. The NG-1 mission will carry a prototype of Blue Ring, a US Defense Department-funded spacecraft envisioned as a versatile satellite deployment platform, which will remain on board the rocket's second stage for the duration of the six-hour test flight. It will mark Blue Origin's long-awaited entry into the lucrative orbital launch market after years of suborbital flights with its smaller New Shepard rocket, which carries passengers and payloads on brief trips to the edge of space. Also read | SpaceX’s first Falcon 9 launch of the year sends Thuraya 4 into orbit "The market is really orbital," analyst Laura Forczyk, founder of Astralytical, told AFP. "Suborbital can only take you so far—there are only so many payloads and customers for a quick ride to space." Space barons The milestone will also escalate the rivalry between Bezos, the world's second-richest person, and Musk, the wealthiest, who has cemented SpaceX's dominance and is now in President-elect Donald Trump's inner circle. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets have become industry workhorses, serving clients from commercial satellite operators to the Pentagon and NASA, which relies on them to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Like Falcon 9, New Glenn features a reusable first stage designed to land vertically on a ship at sea. The vessel, playfully named "So You're Telling Me There's a Chance," reflects the challenge of landing a reusable rocket on the first attempt, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said on X. At 320 feet (98 metres), New Glenn dwarfs the 230-foot Falcon 9 and is designed to carry larger, heavier payloads. It slots between Falcon 9 and its larger sibling, Falcon Heavy, in cargo capacity while burning cleaner liquid natural gas rather than kerosene and relying on fewer engines. Also read | ISRO to launch 100th mission on-board GSLV in January "If I were still a senior executive at NASA, I'd be thrilled to finally have some competition to the Falcon 9," G. Scott Hubbard, NASA's former "Mars Czar" now at Stanford University, told AFP, adding that increased competition could help drive down launch costs. Politics at play For now, SpaceX maintains a commanding lead, capturing the lion's share of the market while rivals like United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and Rocket Lab trail far behind. Like Musk, Bezos has an enduring passion for space. But where Musk dreams of colonizing Mars, Bezos envisages populating the solar system with massive floating space colonies. Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000—two years before Musk started SpaceX—but the company has progressed at a far slower pace, reflecting a more cautious approach. "There's been impatience within the space community over Blue Origin's very deliberate approach," Scott Pace, a space policy analyst at George Washington University and a former member of the National Space Council, told AFP. If successful, New Glenn will offer the US government "dissimilar redundancy" – alternative systems that provide backups if one fails, said Pace. This could prove vital as SpaceX plans to retire Falcon 9 by the end of the decade in favour of Starship, a prototype that relies on not fully proven technologies. Musk's closeness to Trump has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially with private astronaut Jared Isaacman—a business associate of Musk—slated to become the next NASA chief. Bezos, however, has been making his own overtures, paying his respects to his former foe during a visit to the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago residence, while Amazon has said it would donate $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Bezos's Blue Origin ready for its first orbital rocket launch next week

The end of the International Space Station is near. It will end operations in 2031, crashing down onto Earth with help from SpaceX. It will be replaced by a new one made by Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin. Elon Musk's space company has been awarded a $843 million NASA contract to help deorbit the ISS safely once it is decommissioned.

Bezos' space station will be the first-ever commercially owned and operated station in low-Earth orbit. Blue Origin was chosen by NASA to put the space station in orbit, giving it $130 million to develop Orbital Reef. The station would be an 8,200 cubic foot place where future astronomers would go and carry out experiments.

It is scheduled to launch in 2027 and is expected to become fully operational by 2030, a year before the ISS is removed from service. The entire project will cost $100 billion in total.

Blue Origin is building the space station in collaboration with Sierra Space, Amazon, Boeing, and others. Bezos' space station would be different from the current one in a few ways. The new space den would also be available for commercial space activities and may host space tourists in the future.

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Sierra Space and Amazon have clearly defined roles. The former will provide Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) modules, node modules, and a runway-landing Dream Chaser spaceplane for crew and cargo transportation, while Amazon will handle logistics and supply chain management. A Boeing Starliner crew spacecraft will help out with transporting personnel.

<h2>Space tourism aboard the new station</h2>

Initially, it would only have enough space for 10 people which would be expanded over the years. More modules will be added to support operations, such as science modules where microgravity research and development could be carried out.

Since it would also be used for space tourism, it is being designed in such a way that people can make full use of it and get everything they desire when in space. To let people get a good view of Earth and the dark expanse of the universe, the station would have large windows. It would be luxurious and comfortable to give people a good time.&nbsp;

Blue Origin describes the space station as, "Think spacious modules with large windows to view Earth... while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort."

"Distinct quarters will be designed for personal and business use, and large hatches create a safe and inspiring environment."

The end of the International Space Station is near. It will end operations in 2031, crashing down onto Earth with help from SpaceX. It will be replaced by a new one made by Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin.

The end of the International Space Station is near. It will end operations in 2031, crashing down onto Earth with help from SpaceX. It will be replaced by a new one made by Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin. Elon Musk's space company has been awarded a $843 million NASA contract to help deorbit the ISS safely once it is decommissioned. Bezos' space station will be the first-ever commercially owned and operated station in low-Earth orbit. Blue Origin was chosen by NASA to put the space station in orbit, giving it $130 million to develop Orbital Reef. The station would be an 8,200 cubic foot place where future astronomers would go and carry out experiments. It is scheduled to launch in 2027 and is expected to become fully operational by 2030, a year before the ISS is removed from service. The entire project will cost $100 billion in total. Blue Origin is building the space station in collaboration with Sierra Space, Amazon, Boeing, and others. Bezos' space station would be different from the current one in a few ways. The new space den would also be available for commercial space activities and may host space tourists in the future. Also Read: World's first diamond battery can power devices for thousands of years Sierra Space and Amazon have clearly defined roles. The former will provide Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) modules, node modules, and a runway-landing Dream Chaser spaceplane for crew and cargo transportation, while Amazon will handle logistics and supply chain management. A Boeing Starliner crew spacecraft will help out with transporting personnel. Space tourism aboard the new station Initially, it would only have enough space for 10 people which would be expanded over the years. More modules will be added to support operations, such as science modules where microgravity research and development could be carried out. Since it would also be used for space tourism, it is being designed in such a way that people can make full use of it and get everything they desire when in space. To let people get a good view of Earth and the dark expanse of the universe, the station would have large windows. It would be luxurious and comfortable to give people a good time. Blue Origin describes the space station as, "Think spacious modules with large windows to view Earth... while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort." "Distinct quarters will be designed for personal and business use, and large hatches create a safe and inspiring environment."

Jeff Bezos will spend $100,000,000,000 on a new space station that will also host tourists

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin&nbsp;has launched an investigation following an incident during its first crewed flight in two years, in which one of the parachutes on the New Shepard capsule failed to fully inflate.

The company’s New Shepard rocket launched on May 19 and was carrying a six-person crew to suborbital space.&nbsp;

According to SpaceNews reports, "The NS-25 mission saw the crew capsule land to conclude the flight, but only two of its three parachutes were fully inflated."

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Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew programme manager, recently disclosed the problem during a briefing on the upcoming Boeing Starliner crewed test flight.&nbsp;

However, Blue Origin did not openly announce the parachute issue but instead provided a briefing to NASA officials about the irregularity, given that vehicles like Boeing’s Starliner utilise similar components.

It is worth mentioning here, New Shepard uses three parachutes to slow down the crew capsule as it makes its way back to Earth, although it can land with just one parachute fully deployed.

The parachutes open in three stages, but during the NS-25 mission, one of the three parachutes failed at the very first stage when a line controlling its inflation was not cut like it was supposed to, according to Stich.

Stich was quoted in SpaceNews as saying, "It's a small group of people who work on these parachutes. They've been great at sharing data with us. They don't really have any kind of root cause yet, and we continue to follow along with them."

In September 2022, an uncrewed flight of New Shepard ended in flames around a minute after liftoff. The rocket’s booster exploded mid-flight and its capsule abandoned ship while traveling at roughly 700 miles per hour (1,130 kilometers per hour) and at 29,000 feet (8,840 meters) above the ground.

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Blue Origin identified a “thermo-structural failure of the engine nozzle” as the reason behind the rocket’s failed launch.&nbsp;

Although we don’t yet know the severity of the parachute problem or if it will cause further delays, while we’re not parachute experts, it’s fair to say this is concerning; if one parachute fails to deploy, it could indicate the potential for multiple failures during descent, the company said.

A few weeks before the planned liftoff on July 21, 2023, Starliner teams found that the fabric sections of the parachutes had a lower failure load limit than expected.&nbsp;

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This indicated that if one parachute failed, the remaining two would not be able to slow the Starliner vehicle sufficiently for a safe landing in New Mexico.&nbsp;

In March 2024, Boeing announced that it had resolved the safety issue.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin has launched an investigation following an incident during its first crewed flight in two years, in which one of the parachutes on the New Shepard capsule failed to fully inflate.

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin has launched an investigation following an incident during its first crewed flight in two years, in which one of the parachutes on the New Shepard capsule failed to fully inflate. The company’s New Shepard rocket launched on May 19 and was carrying a six-person crew to suborbital space. According to SpaceNews reports, "The NS-25 mission saw the crew capsule land to conclude the flight, but only two of its three parachutes were fully inflated." Also read: Planetary parade: Astrophotographer snaps 'out of this world' six-planet line-up Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew programme manager, recently disclosed the problem during a briefing on the upcoming Boeing Starliner crewed test flight. However, Blue Origin did not openly announce the parachute issue but instead provided a briefing to NASA officials about the irregularity, given that vehicles like Boeing’s Starliner utilise similar components. It is worth mentioning here, New Shepard uses three parachutes to slow down the crew capsule as it makes its way back to Earth, although it can land with just one parachute fully deployed. The parachutes open in three stages, but during the NS-25 mission, one of the three parachutes failed at the very first stage when a line controlling its inflation was not cut like it was supposed to, according to Stich. Stich was quoted in SpaceNews as saying, "It's a small group of people who work on these parachutes. They've been great at sharing data with us. They don't really have any kind of root cause yet, and we continue to follow along with them." In September 2022, an uncrewed flight of New Shepard ended in flames around a minute after liftoff. The rocket’s booster exploded mid-flight and its capsule abandoned ship while traveling at roughly 700 miles per hour (1,130 kilometers per hour) and at 29,000 feet (8,840 meters) above the ground. Watch: World's one of the most active volcano, Hawaii’s Kilauea, erupts again Blue Origin identified a “thermo-structural failure of the engine nozzle” as the reason behind the rocket’s failed launch. Although we don’t yet know the severity of the parachute problem or if it will cause further delays, while we’re not parachute experts, it’s fair to say this is concerning; if one parachute fails to deploy, it could indicate the potential for multiple failures during descent, the company said. A few weeks before the planned liftoff on July 21, 2023, Starliner teams found that the fabric sections of the parachutes had a lower failure load limit than expected. Watch: Russian military satellite closely approaches spacecraft in orbit This indicated that if one parachute failed, the remaining two would not be able to slow the Starliner vehicle sufficiently for a safe landing in New Mexico. In March 2024, Boeing announced that it had resolved the safety issue. (With inputs from agencies)

Parachute malfunctions on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin mission

Blue origin successfully launched a six person crew to space after a 2-year hiatus called Mission NS25 - this is the seventh human flight for Blue Origin - a company owned by tech billionaire Jeff Bezos.

Blue Origin completes 25th mission to space | Gopi Thotakura makes history

US billionaire Jeff Bezos-backed aerospace company Blue Origin's New Shepard (NS) rocket lifted off Sunday (May 19) with six crew members, including one Indian.

The mission, named NS-25, departed from Launch Site One in West Texas.&nbsp;

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LAUNCH! Blue Origin New Shepard launches on a suborbital mission to the edge of space with six crew. 
 
Overview: <a href="https://t.co/cEpcJaMleF">https://t.co/cEpcJaMleF</a> 
 
Official livestream:<a href="https://t.co/YBtZZWj32F">https://t.co/YBtZZWj32F</a> <a href="https://t.co/OkxHvJy4NA">pic.twitter.com/OkxHvJy4NA</a>
— Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1792202947155353723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Gopi Thotakura, from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has thus become the first Indian space tourist. He is a commercial jet pilot and entrepreneur.

Blue Origin described him as "a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive."

Blue Origin is reviving space tourism after a gap of two years, after an unsuccessful uncrewed test flight in 2022.

Overall, this is the seventh New Shepard crewed flight. Other members of the crew include Kenneth L Hess; Sylvain Chiron, founder of Brasserie Mont-Blanc; Mason Angel, a venture capitalist and Carol Schaller.

During their time in space, all six passengers will enjoy several minutes of weightlessness and breathtaking panoramic views of Earth through the cabin windows.&nbsp;

This launch comes after a successful uncrewed scientific mission in December, signalling a major milestone in the New Shepard programme's comeback following the 2022 setback.

Ahead of the flight on Sunday, all candidates attended a two-day on-site astronaut training programme that briefed them about New Shepard’s mission profile, safety systems, and&nbsp;zero-g&nbsp;protocols,&nbsp;and executed mission simulations.

It is to be noted that nearly 99 per cent of the rocket's parts are reused after the completion of the space flight. The only byproduct of New Shepard’s engine combustion is water vapour and no carbon emissions are involved.&nbsp;

<h2>Who is Gopi Thotakura?</h2>

Gopi is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has co-founded Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health. The facility is located next to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Apart from piloting commercial jets, Thotakura flies bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, along with gliders and hot air balloons. He has also served as an international medical jet pilot.

Being a lifelong adventurer, Thotakura's latest journey involved reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

(With inputs from agencies)

US billionaire Jeff Bezos-backed aerospace company Blue Origin's New Shepard (NS) rocket lifted off Sunday (May 19) with six crew members, including one Indian. The mission, named NS-25, departed from Launch Site One in West Texas.

US billionaire Jeff Bezos-backed aerospace company Blue Origin's New Shepard (NS) rocket lifted off Sunday (May 19) with six crew members, including one Indian. The mission, named NS-25, departed from Launch Site One in West Texas. LAUNCH! Blue Origin New Shepard launches on a suborbital mission to the edge of space with six crew. Overview: https://t.co/cEpcJaMleF Official livestream:https://t.co/YBtZZWj32F pic.twitter.com/OkxHvJy4NA — Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) May 19, 2024 × Gopi Thotakura, from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has thus become the first Indian space tourist. He is a commercial jet pilot and entrepreneur. Blue Origin described him as "a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive." Blue Origin is reviving space tourism after a gap of two years, after an unsuccessful uncrewed test flight in 2022. Overall, this is the seventh New Shepard crewed flight. Other members of the crew include Kenneth L Hess; Sylvain Chiron, founder of Brasserie Mont-Blanc; Mason Angel, a venture capitalist and Carol Schaller. During their time in space, all six passengers will enjoy several minutes of weightlessness and breathtaking panoramic views of Earth through the cabin windows. This launch comes after a successful uncrewed scientific mission in December, signalling a major milestone in the New Shepard programme's comeback following the 2022 setback. Ahead of the flight on Sunday, all candidates attended a two-day on-site astronaut training programme that briefed them about New Shepard’s mission profile, safety systems, and zero-g protocols, and executed mission simulations. It is to be noted that nearly 99 per cent of the rocket's parts are reused after the completion of the space flight. The only byproduct of New Shepard’s engine combustion is water vapour and no carbon emissions are involved. Who is Gopi Thotakura? Gopi is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has co-founded Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health. The facility is located next to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Apart from piloting commercial jets, Thotakura flies bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, along with gliders and hot air balloons. He has also served as an international medical jet pilot. Being a lifelong adventurer, Thotakura's latest journey involved reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off with six crew on board, including one Indian

Blue Origin has chosen an Indian pilot for its next voyage aboard New Shepard. Gopichand Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot from Andhra Pradesh has been chosen among a few of those people who will join the elite crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepard- 25 (NS- 25) mission.&nbsp;

As part of the elite mission, Thotakura will make a journey beyond the Earth’s atmosphere along with five other crew members. In the past, Thotakura has flown beyond the Karman line (the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space), a feat that has been achieved by only 31 distinguished fellows.&nbsp;

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<h2>Who is Gopichand Thotakura? Indian pilot selected as Blue Origin’s New Shepard crew member</h2>

Gopichand Thotakura, 30, hails from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and was born in Vijayawada. He currently runs Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health. The company is located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

He always had a passion for flying and a zeal to master the art of manoeuvring. To pursue his passion, Thotakura graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewShepard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewShepard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS25?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS25</a> crew will include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Ed Dwight, Ken Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura. Read more 🚀: <a href="https://t.co/KbAJkbRTvj">https://t.co/KbAJkbRTvj</a> <a href="https://t.co/8QBFYPJkYj">pic.twitter.com/8QBFYPJkYj</a>
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1775918473660469440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Describing him, Blue Origins wrote, "Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive. Gopi pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical jet pilot. A lifelong traveller, his most recent adventure took him to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro."

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Each member of the NS-25 mission will carry a postcard on behalf of Blue Origin's foundation, Club for the Future, symbolising the collective dreams and aspirations of young minds worldwide.

Thotakura will also be joined by the former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by US President John F Kennedy in 1961 as the country's first Black astronaut candidate but was never granted the opportunity to fly to space.

<h2>Blue Origin’s New Shepard-25 (NS-25) mission</h2>

Blue Origin’s New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, a Mercury astronaut from the US. New Shepard is a reusable rocket system crafted to transport astronauts and research payloads beyond the Karman line.&nbsp;

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"Whether you are an astronaut travelling alongside Blue Origin or dispatching a payload into space, your brief 11-minute journey aboard New Shepard promises to be an unforgettable adventure,” Blue Origin's official website says.

Blue Origin has various such initiatives including transporting astronauts aboard New Shepard to space, creating reusable liquid rocket engines, and constructing an orbital launch vehicle named New Glenn.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Blue Origin has chosen an Indian pilot for its next voyage aboard New Shepard. Gopichand Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot from Andhra Pradesh has been chosen among a few of those people who will join the elite crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepard- 25 (NS- 25) mission.

Blue Origin has chosen an Indian pilot for its next voyage aboard New Shepard. Gopichand Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot from Andhra Pradesh has been chosen among a few of those people who will join the elite crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepard- 25 (NS- 25) mission. As part of the elite mission, Thotakura will make a journey beyond the Earth’s atmosphere along with five other crew members. In the past, Thotakura has flown beyond the Karman line (the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space), a feat that has been achieved by only 31 distinguished fellows. Also Read | Prime Minister Modi addresses rally in Jammu and Kashmir, speaks on statehood, Article 370 and more Who is Gopichand Thotakura? Indian pilot selected as Blue Origin’s New Shepard crew member Gopichand Thotakura, 30, hails from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and was born in Vijayawada. He currently runs Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health. The company is located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He always had a passion for flying and a zeal to master the art of manoeuvring. To pursue his passion, Thotakura graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science. #NewShepard #NS25 crew will include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Ed Dwight, Ken Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura. Read more 🚀: https://t.co/KbAJkbRTvj pic.twitter.com/8QBFYPJkYj — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 4, 2024 × Describing him, Blue Origins wrote, "Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive. Gopi pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical jet pilot. A lifelong traveller, his most recent adventure took him to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro." Also Read | Caught on camera! Viral video shows Swiggy agent stealing shoes outside Gurugram flat; Company responds Each member of the NS-25 mission will carry a postcard on behalf of Blue Origin's foundation, Club for the Future, symbolising the collective dreams and aspirations of young minds worldwide. Thotakura will also be joined by the former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by US President John F Kennedy in 1961 as the country's first Black astronaut candidate but was never granted the opportunity to fly to space. Blue Origin’s New Shepard-25 (NS-25) mission Blue Origin’s New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, a Mercury astronaut from the US. New Shepard is a reusable rocket system crafted to transport astronauts and research payloads beyond the Karman line. Also Read | Explained: The ads case against Patanjali "Whether you are an astronaut travelling alongside Blue Origin or dispatching a payload into space, your brief 11-minute journey aboard New Shepard promises to be an unforgettable adventure,” Blue Origin's official website says. Blue Origin has various such initiatives including transporting astronauts aboard New Shepard to space, creating reusable liquid rocket engines, and constructing an orbital launch vehicle named New Glenn. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Gopi Thotakura, first Indian ‘space tourist’ to fly with Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin?

Virgin Galactic successfully carried out its first spaceflight in nearly two years Thursday, the company said, after an "enhancement period" to make safety upgrades to its fleet.

It was the fifth time the space tourism company brushed the boundary of space, and has been billed as the final test before commercial operations can begin in late June, with members of the Italian Air Force as the first paying customers.

"Touchdown, VSS Unity!" the company tweeted, referring to the name of the company's spaceplane. "Our crew and spaceship are back on Earth after landing smoothly at Spaceport America, New Mexico."

The mission "was a fantastic achievement for everyone at Virgin Galactic," added CEO Michael Colglazier, in a statement.

The Unity 25 mission flew four of the company employees to an altitude of just over 54 miles (87 kilometres) above sea level.

Virgin Galactic's space programme has suffered years of delays and a 2014 accident in which a pilot died.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sunspot-four-times-bigger-than-the-size-of-earth-is-visible-right-now-heres-how-you-can-see-it-596638">Sunspot four times bigger than earth is visible right now. Here's how you can see it</a>

Unlike other companies that use vertical-launch rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a carrier aircraft with two pilots that takes off from a runway, gains high altitude, and drops a rocket-powered plane that soars into space at nearly Mach 3, before gliding back to Earth.

The total journey time is 90 minutes, with passengers experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness in the space plane's cabin.

Its first fully crewed flight in 2021 included the company's flamboyant founder, British billionaire Richard Branson.&nbsp;

But what had appeared to be a breakthrough moment for the company was marred by an official safety probe after the spaceplane was found to have dropped below its assigned airspace on its descent.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-spacecraft-discovers-how-jupiters-lightning-shares-similarity-with-earths-596297">NASA spacecraft discovers how Jupiter's lightning shares similarity with Earth's</a>

The Federal Aviation Agency later cleared the company to resume activity after it promised corrective actions.

Virgin Galactic has sold 800 tickets for future commercial flights -- 600 between 2005 and 2014 for $200,000 to $250,000, and 200 since then for $450,000 each.

It competes in the "suborbital" space tourism sector with billionaire Jeff Bezos' company, Blue Origin, which has already sent 32 people into space.&nbsp;

But since an accident in September 2022 during an unmanned flight, Blue Origin's rocket has been grounded. In March, the company promised to resume spaceflight soon.

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Virgin Galactic successfully carried out its first spaceflight in nearly two years Thursday, the company said, after an "enhancement period" to make safety upgrades to its fleet.

Virgin Galactic successfully carried out its first spaceflight in nearly two years Thursday, the company said, after an "enhancement period" to make safety upgrades to its fleet. It was the fifth time the space tourism company brushed the boundary of space, and has been billed as the final test before commercial operations can begin in late June, with members of the Italian Air Force as the first paying customers. "Touchdown, VSS Unity!" the company tweeted, referring to the name of the company's spaceplane. "Our crew and spaceship are back on Earth after landing smoothly at Spaceport America, New Mexico." The mission "was a fantastic achievement for everyone at Virgin Galactic," added CEO Michael Colglazier, in a statement. The Unity 25 mission flew four of the company employees to an altitude of just over 54 miles (87 kilometres) above sea level. Virgin Galactic's space programme has suffered years of delays and a 2014 accident in which a pilot died. Also Read | Sunspot four times bigger than earth is visible right now. Here's how you can see it Unlike other companies that use vertical-launch rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a carrier aircraft with two pilots that takes off from a runway, gains high altitude, and drops a rocket-powered plane that soars into space at nearly Mach 3, before gliding back to Earth. The total journey time is 90 minutes, with passengers experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness in the space plane's cabin. Its first fully crewed flight in 2021 included the company's flamboyant founder, British billionaire Richard Branson. But what had appeared to be a breakthrough moment for the company was marred by an official safety probe after the spaceplane was found to have dropped below its assigned airspace on its descent. Also Read | NASA spacecraft discovers how Jupiter's lightning shares similarity with Earth's The Federal Aviation Agency later cleared the company to resume activity after it promised corrective actions. Virgin Galactic has sold 800 tickets for future commercial flights -- 600 between 2005 and 2014 for $200,000 to $250,000, and 200 since then for $450,000 each. It competes in the "suborbital" space tourism sector with billionaire Jeff Bezos' company, Blue Origin, which has already sent 32 people into space. But since an accident in September 2022 during an unmanned flight, Blue Origin's rocket has been grounded. In March, the company promised to resume spaceflight soon. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Virgin Galactic resumes spaceflights successfully after two-year pause for safety upgrade

Billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Friday expressed hopes of resuming flights of its grounded rockets soon. The company's New Shepard suborbital rockets were grounded following an accident in September 2022 that happened shortly after the space vehicle's liftoff from Texas. An investigation into the accident involving the rockets meant to be used for space tourism, among other purposes, is scheduled to be concluded soon.&nbsp;Blue Origin says that it "expects to return to flight soon" re-flying the same NS-23 payloads.

The probe that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is overseeing as per the regulatory body is still open. FAA said that it was "currently reviewing the company's submission of its mishap report."

"FAA approval is required to close the investigation and for the New Shepard System to return to flight," it added in its statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-blue-origins-rocket-veers-off-its-course-capsule-parachutes-onto-remote-desert-floor-515548">Watch | Blue Origin's rocket veers off its course, capsule parachutes onto remote desert floor</a>

Even though, as per AFP,&nbsp;the incident was a blow to Bezos' company, onlookers were reportedly comforted by the probability that had there been passengers, they would have likely been unscathed.

During the mission involving a single booster rocket, there was an anomaly which happened as the vehicle was climbing towards space. Due to the malfunction,&nbsp;the rocket stalled, but the Blue Origin's NS-23 capsule, which was carrying a scientific payload, initiated its escape sequence and out speeding the booster, fell back to Earth.

The booster instead of landing upright&nbsp;— its usual landing position&nbsp;—&nbsp;"impacted the ground" and subsequently, the investigation was launched.&nbsp;Since 2021, Blue Origin has 'safely' flown 32 people — some of them paying customers and some guests. Amazon founder Bezos himself was part of the first flight.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Friday expressed hopes of resuming flights of its grounded rockets soon. The company's New Shepard suborbital rockets were grounded following an accident in September 2022 that happened shortly after the space vehicle's liftoff from Texas.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Friday expressed hopes of resuming flights of its grounded rockets soon. The company's New Shepard suborbital rockets were grounded following an accident in September 2022 that happened shortly after the space vehicle's liftoff from Texas. An investigation into the accident involving the rockets meant to be used for space tourism, among other purposes, is scheduled to be concluded soon. Blue Origin says that it "expects to return to flight soon" re-flying the same NS-23 payloads. The probe that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is overseeing as per the regulatory body is still open. FAA said that it was "currently reviewing the company's submission of its mishap report." "FAA approval is required to close the investigation and for the New Shepard System to return to flight," it added in its statement. Also read | Watch | Blue Origin's rocket veers off its course, capsule parachutes onto remote desert floor Even though, as per AFP, the incident was a blow to Bezos' company, onlookers were reportedly comforted by the probability that had there been passengers, they would have likely been unscathed. During the mission involving a single booster rocket, there was an anomaly which happened as the vehicle was climbing towards space. Due to the malfunction, the rocket stalled, but the Blue Origin's NS-23 capsule, which was carrying a scientific payload, initiated its escape sequence and out speeding the booster, fell back to Earth. The booster instead of landing upright — its usual landing position — "impacted the ground" and subsequently, the investigation was launched. Since 2021, Blue Origin has 'safely' flown 32 people — some of them paying customers and some guests. Amazon founder Bezos himself was part of the first flight. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin hopes to resume space flights ‘soon’

In a first, Blue Origin's rocket suffered its first launch failure on Monday after it veered off course over West Texas about a minute after liftoff.

Lifting the craft off the top, the capsule’s launch abort system immediately kicked in and the capsule parachuted onto the remote desert floor.

Sharing the footage of the incident, the company tweeted ''Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed.''

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Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed. <a href="https://t.co/xFDsUMONTh">pic.twitter.com/xFDsUMONTh</a>
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1569349950944985089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“It appears we’ve experienced an anomaly with today’s flight. This wasn’t planned,” the launch commentator said.

During the experiment, no one was aboard and the rocket was travelling nearly 700 mph (1,126 kph) at an altitude of about 28,000 feet (8,500 metres).

With the webcast showing it reaching a maximum altitude of more than 37,000 feet (11,300 meters), launch commentator Erika Wagner said the capsule managed to escape successfully.

Named after the first American in space Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, it was the 23rd flight for the New Shepard programme.

The aerospace company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has used the same kind of rocket and capsule to carry paying passengers on 10-minute rides to the edge of space.

Since the launch of Blue Origin's New Shepard, the company has carried 31 people to the edge of space, with Bezos being one of them.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a first, Blue Origin's rocket suffered its first launch failure on Monday after it veered off course over West Texas about a minute after liftoff. Lifting the craft off the top, the capsule’s launch abort system immediately kicked in and the capsule parachuted onto the remote desert floor.

In a first, Blue Origin's rocket suffered its first launch failure on Monday after it veered off course over West Texas about a minute after liftoff. Lifting the craft off the top, the capsule’s launch abort system immediately kicked in and the capsule parachuted onto the remote desert floor. Sharing the footage of the incident, the company tweeted ''Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed.'' Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed. pic.twitter.com/xFDsUMONTh — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) September 12, 2022 × “It appears we’ve experienced an anomaly with today’s flight. This wasn’t planned,” the launch commentator said. During the experiment, no one was aboard and the rocket was travelling nearly 700 mph (1,126 kph) at an altitude of about 28,000 feet (8,500 metres). With the webcast showing it reaching a maximum altitude of more than 37,000 feet (11,300 meters), launch commentator Erika Wagner said the capsule managed to escape successfully. Named after the first American in space Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, it was the 23rd flight for the New Shepard programme. The aerospace company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has used the same kind of rocket and capsule to carry paying passengers on 10-minute rides to the edge of space. Since the launch of Blue Origin's New Shepard, the company has carried 31 people to the edge of space, with Bezos being one of them. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Watch | Blue Origin's rocket veers off its course, capsule parachutes onto remote desert floor

Blue Origin's fourth crew to final frontier successfully lands after 10-minute voyage on Friday.

The space tourism venture launched by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos blasted off from the company's Launch Site One base in west Texas with six crew members.

Gary Lai, chief architect of the New Shepard programme, who was a part of the crew said "I felt my skin pulling taut," as the New Shepard spacecraft soared to an altitude of 66 miles (106 km).

"Someday you're going to see us launching every single week," he said.

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Views of a borderless Earth from space <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS20</a> <a href="https://t.co/0FIHvvMs69">pic.twitter.com/0FIHvvMs69</a>
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1509607551347867653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Lai replaced comedian Pete Davidson, the boyfriend of reality star Kim Kardashian, who canceled his participation when the planned launch was postponed from its original March 23 date to allow time for additional pre-flight tests.

Other than Lai, the crew members aboard the spacecraft included angel investor Marty Allen, real estate veteran Marc Hagle and his wife Sharon Hagle, entrepreneur and University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen and George Nield, founder and president of Commercial Space Technologies.

The unique rocket has reusable, zero greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;It crossed the Karman line that marks the start of space.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-has-space-business-has-become-the-final-profitable-frontier-452928" hreflang="en">Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier?</a>

While in space, the passengers&nbsp;unbuckled their seatbelts and enjoyed a few minutes of weightlessness, taking in the majesty of Earth before the capsule re-entered the atmosphere

Bezos, the billionaire founder of online retail giant Amazon, was part of Blue Origin's inaugural crewed flight to the edge of space last July.&nbsp;

He was accompanied by his brother, Mark Bezos, trailblazing octogenarian female aviator Wally Funk and an 18-year-old Dutch high school graduate.

Meanwhile, his competitor Elon Musk's SpaceX is targeting next week to fly three tycoons and a former astronaut to the International Space Station on the Axiom-1 mission.

However, the crew involved in the mission insists they're doing serious research work rather than going on vacation. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Blue Origin's fourth crew to final frontier successfully lands after 10-minute voyage on Friday. The space tourism venture launched by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos blasted off from the company's Launch Site One base in west Texas with six crew members.

Blue Origin's fourth crew to final frontier successfully lands after 10-minute voyage on Friday. The space tourism venture launched by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos blasted off from the company's Launch Site One base in west Texas with six crew members. Gary Lai, chief architect of the New Shepard programme, who was a part of the crew said "I felt my skin pulling taut," as the New Shepard spacecraft soared to an altitude of 66 miles (106 km). "Someday you're going to see us launching every single week," he said. Views of a borderless Earth from space #NS20 pic.twitter.com/0FIHvvMs69 — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) March 31, 2022 × Lai replaced comedian Pete Davidson, the boyfriend of reality star Kim Kardashian, who canceled his participation when the planned launch was postponed from its original March 23 date to allow time for additional pre-flight tests. Other than Lai, the crew members aboard the spacecraft included angel investor Marty Allen, real estate veteran Marc Hagle and his wife Sharon Hagle, entrepreneur and University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen and George Nield, founder and president of Commercial Space Technologies. The unique rocket has reusable, zero greenhouse gas emissions. It crossed the Karman line that marks the start of space. Also see | Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier? While in space, the passengers unbuckled their seatbelts and enjoyed a few minutes of weightlessness, taking in the majesty of Earth before the capsule re-entered the atmosphere Bezos, the billionaire founder of online retail giant Amazon, was part of Blue Origin's inaugural crewed flight to the edge of space last July. He was accompanied by his brother, Mark Bezos, trailblazing octogenarian female aviator Wally Funk and an 18-year-old Dutch high school graduate. Meanwhile, his competitor Elon Musk's SpaceX is targeting next week to fly three tycoons and a former astronaut to the International Space Station on the Axiom-1 mission. However, the crew involved in the mission insists they're doing serious research work rather than going on vacation. (With inputs from agencies)

Blue Origin successfully lands after 10-minute voyage in its fourth crew to final frontier

The fourth commercial&nbsp;flight&nbsp;of Jeff Bezos' space&nbsp;tourism&nbsp;venture&nbsp;Blue&nbsp;Origin, offering short suborbital joyrides to well-heeled thrill-seekers and celebrity guests, was due for liftoff on Tuesday from the company's&nbsp;launch&nbsp;site in rural west Texas.

Blue&nbsp;Origin's&nbsp;New Shepard spacecraft was slated for&nbsp;launch&nbsp;at 8:30 a.m. CDT (1330 GMT) with six would-be citizen&nbsp;astronauts strapped into the crew cabin atop the fully autonomous&nbsp;launch&nbsp;vehicle, standing nearly six stories tall, outside Van Horn, Texas.

But unlike&nbsp;Blue&nbsp;Origin's&nbsp;first three commercial&nbsp;flights, with passenger rosters including "Star Trek" actor William Shatner, morning TV host Michael Strahan and even Bezos himself, nobody among the latest group of customers even comes close to being famous.

The most recent household name confirmed as a non-paying promotional guest, "Saturday Night Live" comic Pete Davidson, dropped out earlier this month when the planned&nbsp;launch&nbsp;was postponed for six days from its original March 23 date to allow time for additional pre-flight&nbsp;tests.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/just-when-bezos-yacht-demands-unexpected-costs-amazon-prime-raises-price-450426">Just when Bezos’ yacht demands unexpected costs, Amazon Prime raises price</a>

Days later the company announced that Davidson, 28, the boyfriend of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, had been replaced on the latest "crew" manifest by veteran&nbsp;Blue&nbsp;Origin designer Gary Lai, architect of the New Shepard reusable&nbsp;launch&nbsp;system.

Lai is flying for free. He joins five previously announced paying customers - angel investor Marty Allen, real estate veteran Marc Hagle and his wife Sharon Hagle, entrepreneur and University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen and George Nield, founder-president of Commercial Space Technologies.

Kitchen's journey to the final frontier caps a lifelong dedication to travel that has taken him to all 193 U.N.-recognized countries, according to biographical material from&nbsp;Blue&nbsp;Origin.

Tuesday's entire&nbsp;flight, from liftoff to touchdown, is expected to last just over 10 minutes. The crew will experience a few minutes of weightlessness at the very apex of their suborbital ride, some 350,000 feet (106,680 metres) high, before their capsule falls back to Earth for a parachute landing on the desert floor.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/heres-how-jeff-bezos-superyacht-messing-up-with-history-of-this-dutch-port-city-450146">Here's how Jeff Bezos' superyacht messing up with history of this Dutch port city</a>

Bezos, the billionaire founder of online retail giant Amazon, tagged along himself on&nbsp;Blue&nbsp;Origin's&nbsp;inaugural crewed&nbsp;flight&nbsp;to the edge of space last July.

He accompanied his brother, Mark Bezos, trailblazing octogenarian female aviator Wally Funk and an 18-year-old Dutch high school graduate.

Later passengers included Shatner, who became the oldest person to fly to space at age 90, "Good Morning America" co-host and retired NFL star Strahan, and the eldest daughter of pioneering&nbsp;astronaut Alan Shepard, for whom&nbsp;Blue&nbsp;Origin's&nbsp;spacecraft is named.

The fourth commercial flight of Jeff Bezos' space tourism venture Blue Origin, offering short suborbital joyrides to well-heeled thrill-seekers and celebrity guests, was due for liftoff on Tuesday from the company's launch site in rural west Texas.

The fourth commercial flight of Jeff Bezos' space tourism venture Blue Origin, offering short suborbital joyrides to well-heeled thrill-seekers and celebrity guests, was due for liftoff on Tuesday from the company's launch site in rural west Texas. Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft was slated for launch at 8:30 a.m. CDT (1330 GMT) with six would-be citizen astronauts strapped into the crew cabin atop the fully autonomous launch vehicle, standing nearly six stories tall, outside Van Horn, Texas. But unlike Blue Origin's first three commercial flights, with passenger rosters including "Star Trek" actor William Shatner, morning TV host Michael Strahan and even Bezos himself, nobody among the latest group of customers even comes close to being famous. The most recent household name confirmed as a non-paying promotional guest, "Saturday Night Live" comic Pete Davidson, dropped out earlier this month when the planned launch was postponed for six days from its original March 23 date to allow time for additional pre-flight tests. Also read | Just when Bezos’ yacht demands unexpected costs, Amazon Prime raises price Days later the company announced that Davidson, 28, the boyfriend of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, had been replaced on the latest "crew" manifest by veteran Blue Origin designer Gary Lai, architect of the New Shepard reusable launch system. Lai is flying for free. He joins five previously announced paying customers - angel investor Marty Allen, real estate veteran Marc Hagle and his wife Sharon Hagle, entrepreneur and University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen and George Nield, founder-president of Commercial Space Technologies. Kitchen's journey to the final frontier caps a lifelong dedication to travel that has taken him to all 193 U.N.-recognized countries, according to biographical material from Blue Origin. Tuesday's entire flight, from liftoff to touchdown, is expected to last just over 10 minutes. The crew will experience a few minutes of weightlessness at the very apex of their suborbital ride, some 350,000 feet (106,680 metres) high, before their capsule falls back to Earth for a parachute landing on the desert floor. Also read | Here's how Jeff Bezos' superyacht messing up with history of this Dutch port city Bezos, the billionaire founder of online retail giant Amazon, tagged along himself on Blue Origin's inaugural crewed flight to the edge of space last July. He accompanied his brother, Mark Bezos, trailblazing octogenarian female aviator Wally Funk and an 18-year-old Dutch high school graduate. Later passengers included Shatner, who became the oldest person to fly to space at age 90, "Good Morning America" co-host and retired NFL star Strahan, and the eldest daughter of pioneering astronaut Alan Shepard, for whom Blue Origin's spacecraft is named.

Blue Origin's 4th astro-tourism flight set to launch without big names

Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier?

The daughter of US astronaut Alan Shepard, Laura Shepard Churchley, flew to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin flight on Saturday.

The flight lasted less than eleven minutes as the Blue Origin capsule blasted off from Texas. Alan Shepard was the first American to undertake the space flight in 1961.

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And, capsule touchdown! Welcome back to Earth, crew of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS19</a>. Laura, Michael, Evan, Dylan, Cameron, and Lane.
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1469686394566160390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Laura Shepard Churchley, 74, along with former American football player Michael Strahan, 50, was also part of the guest crew including space industry executive Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick and parent-child pair of Lane Bess and Cameron Bess, 23, from Bess ventures.

Taylor, Evan Dick and the Bess family have paid an undisclosed amount for the space voyage.

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We dedicate the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS19</a> flight to the memory of Glen de Vries. His passion and dedication will not be forgotten. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdAstra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdAstra</a> Glen. 
<a href="https://t.co/feieiUz3tz">https://t.co/feieiUz3tz</a>
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1469657930437910532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Churchley undertook the journey&nbsp;aboard the "New Shepard" which is named after her famous father. Alan Shepard had also walked on the Moon during the famous Apollo 14 mission.

In July Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and&nbsp;Oliver Daeman had taken the Blue Origin flight to space.

Star Trek legend William Shatner had taken the Blue Origin flight to the edge of space in October becoming the oldest person to go to space at the age of 90.

(With inputs from Agencies)

The daughter of US astronaut Alan Shepard, Laura Shepard Churchley, flew to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin flight on Saturday. The flight lasted less than eleven minutes as the Blue Origin capsule blasted off from Texas.

The daughter of US astronaut Alan Shepard, Laura Shepard Churchley, flew to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin flight on Saturday. The flight lasted less than eleven minutes as the Blue Origin capsule blasted off from Texas. Alan Shepard was the first American to undertake the space flight in 1961. And, capsule touchdown! Welcome back to Earth, crew of #NS19. Laura, Michael, Evan, Dylan, Cameron, and Lane. — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 11, 2021 × Laura Shepard Churchley, 74, along with former American football player Michael Strahan, 50, was also part of the guest crew including space industry executive Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick and parent-child pair of Lane Bess and Cameron Bess, 23, from Bess ventures. Taylor, Evan Dick and the Bess family have paid an undisclosed amount for the space voyage. We dedicate the #NS19 flight to the memory of Glen de Vries. His passion and dedication will not be forgotten. #AdAstra Glen. https://t.co/feieiUz3tz — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 11, 2021 × Churchley undertook the journey aboard the "New Shepard" which is named after her famous father. Alan Shepard had also walked on the Moon during the famous Apollo 14 mission. In July Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daeman had taken the Blue Origin flight to space. Star Trek legend William Shatner had taken the Blue Origin flight to the edge of space in October becoming the oldest person to go to space at the age of 90. (With inputs from Agencies)

Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of first American astronaut takes Blue Origin flight to space

The US Federal Aviation Administration is going to stop providing commercial astronaut wings.

Blaming ''too many launchings'' behind the decision, it said “Now it’s time to offer recognition to a larger group of adventurers daring to go to space.”

The long-standing programme is going to continue till December 31 and will come to an end on January 1.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/inclusive-outer-space-first-disabled-crew-takes-flight-in-zero-gravity-435910" hreflang="en">Inclusive outer space: First disabled crew takes flight in zero gravity</a>

According to FAA’s associate administrator Wayne Monteith, “The US commercial human spaceflight industry has come a long way from conducting test flights to launching paying customers into space.”&nbsp;

Even though the largest transportation agency of the US government is getting out of the astronaut designation business entirely, it will still provide stars to NASA astronauts.

The news comes just before Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos plans a liftoff with former NFL player and TV celebrity Michael Strahan under his human spaceflight programme.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420" hreflang="en">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

Interestingly, the FAA is investigating allegations made against the company made by former employees who had raised safety concerns.

Alexandra Abrams, former head of Blue Origin Employee Communications, and 20 other unnamed Blue Origin employees and former employees, said in an essay they had "seen a pattern of decision-making that often prioritizes execution speed and cost reduction over the appropriate resourcing to ensure quality."

The essay said a 2018 team at Blue Origin "documented more than 1,000 problem reports related to the engines that power Blue Origin’s rockets, which had never been addressed."

In response, Blue Origin said it stood "by our safety record and believe that New Shepard is the safest space vehicle ever designed or built."

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Federal Aviation Administration is going to stop providing commercial astronaut wings. Blaming ''too many launchings'' behind the decision, it said “Now it’s time to offer recognition to a larger group of adventurers daring to go to space.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is going to stop providing commercial astronaut wings. Blaming ''too many launchings'' behind the decision, it said “Now it’s time to offer recognition to a larger group of adventurers daring to go to space.” The long-standing programme is going to continue till December 31 and will come to an end on January 1. Also read | Inclusive outer space: First disabled crew takes flight in zero gravity According to FAA’s associate administrator Wayne Monteith, “The US commercial human spaceflight industry has come a long way from conducting test flights to launching paying customers into space.” Even though the largest transportation agency of the US government is getting out of the astronaut designation business entirely, it will still provide stars to NASA astronauts. The news comes just before Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos plans a liftoff with former NFL player and TV celebrity Michael Strahan under his human spaceflight programme. Also see | Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Interestingly, the FAA is investigating allegations made against the company made by former employees who had raised safety concerns. Alexandra Abrams, former head of Blue Origin Employee Communications, and 20 other unnamed Blue Origin employees and former employees, said in an essay they had "seen a pattern of decision-making that often prioritizes execution speed and cost reduction over the appropriate resourcing to ensure quality." The essay said a 2018 team at Blue Origin "documented more than 1,000 problem reports related to the engines that power Blue Origin’s rockets, which had never been addressed." In response, Blue Origin said it stood "by our safety record and believe that New Shepard is the safest space vehicle ever designed or built." (With inputs from agencies)

'Too many launchings': Federal Aviation Administration to stop providing commercial astronaut wings

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade.

For the development of their orbital outposts, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the aerospace company Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman won contracts worth $130 million, $160 million and $125.6 million, respectively.

An earlier $140 million contract was awarded to a fourth company, Axiom Space.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/all-aboard-these-companies-are-building-spacecraft-to-send-people-to-space-377036">All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space</a>&nbsp;

In order to cut costs and focus on its ambitious goals, the US space agency has increasingly turned to private industry to develop hardware it once made itself. NASA's goals include building habitats on the Moon and preparing for a crewed mission to Mars.

"We are partnering with US companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space," said NASA chief Bill Nelson in a statement.

"These awards will help ensure the United States has a continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit, said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of commercial spaceflight. "A gap would be bad."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/want-to-become-a-space-tourist-here-is-all-you-need-to-do-399437">Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do</a>

The companies have not given an estimate of how much the space stations will cost to develop, but they have unveiled their plans.

However, McCalister said NASA would not contribute more than 40 per cent of the funding to the projects.

"The sum invested today by NASA to launch this program is small compared to the money that will be required," said Brent Sherwood, Blue Origin's senior vice president of advanced development programs.

As part of a collaboration with Sierra Space, Blue Origin is creating Orbital Reef, which will eventually house 10 people. Microgravity research and manufacturing will be carried out in the "mixed-use business park in space".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jeff-bezos-firm-blue-origin-unveils-plan-to-build-commercial-space-station-424048">Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station</a>

Developed with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks' space station will be called "Starlab."

Nanoracks aims to be operational in 2027 and will include a biology lab, plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area.

Northrop Grumman, which developed a cargo delivery system called Cygnus, currently supports the International Space Station by making deliveries. It plans to build its own station module by module. This will ensure that science, tourism, and industrial experimentation will all be included.

Watch |&nbsp;Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blue-origin-unveils-plans-for-orbital-reef-a-business-park-in-outer-space-424062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Twenty-one years have passed since the first long-term residents were welcomed to the space station. It has become a symbol of international cooperation, particularly between the US and Russia.

As of now, the International Space Station is rated safe until 2028, and new administrator Nelson has stated that he hopes it will last until 2030, by which time NASA wants the commercial sector to take the lead and replace it.

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade.

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade. For the development of their orbital outposts, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the aerospace company Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman won contracts worth $130 million, $160 million and $125.6 million, respectively. An earlier $140 million contract was awarded to a fourth company, Axiom Space. Also read | All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space In order to cut costs and focus on its ambitious goals, the US space agency has increasingly turned to private industry to develop hardware it once made itself. NASA's goals include building habitats on the Moon and preparing for a crewed mission to Mars. "We are partnering with US companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space," said NASA chief Bill Nelson in a statement. "These awards will help ensure the United States has a continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit, said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of commercial spaceflight. "A gap would be bad." Also read | Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do The companies have not given an estimate of how much the space stations will cost to develop, but they have unveiled their plans. However, McCalister said NASA would not contribute more than 40 per cent of the funding to the projects. "The sum invested today by NASA to launch this program is small compared to the money that will be required," said Brent Sherwood, Blue Origin's senior vice president of advanced development programs. As part of a collaboration with Sierra Space, Blue Origin is creating Orbital Reef, which will eventually house 10 people. Microgravity research and manufacturing will be carried out in the "mixed-use business park in space". Also read | Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station Developed with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks' space station will be called "Starlab." Nanoracks aims to be operational in 2027 and will include a biology lab, plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area. Northrop Grumman, which developed a cargo delivery system called Cygnus, currently supports the International Space Station by making deliveries. It plans to build its own station module by module. This will ensure that science, tourism, and industrial experimentation will all be included. Watch | Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space Twenty-one years have passed since the first long-term residents were welcomed to the space station. It has become a symbol of international cooperation, particularly between the US and Russia. As of now, the International Space Station is rated safe until 2028, and new administrator Nelson has stated that he hopes it will last until 2030, by which time NASA wants the commercial sector to take the lead and replace it.

Want to space travel? NASA awards $415.6 million for new space hubs where people can visit, live, work

Why would a tourist want to take a trip to space?

For the wealthy thrill seekers able to pay upwards of $450,000 for a seat with commercial space projects such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, the answer is likely to involve the pursuit of awe or wonder. Philosophers call the type of sensory and aesthetic stimuli that provoke it the sublime.

On its face, the kind of short flight to the edge of space that looks set to be the predominant mode of space tourism, at least in the short term, seems the very definition of what the psychologist Abraham Maslow called a “peak experience.” The kinetic thrill of rocketing to an altitude of over 50 miles, combined with the astonishing perspective it affords of our planet, invites us to believe that few adventures could be more profound.

But picture the millionaire awe chaser when the big day comes around, and the capsule he has booked a seat on hurtles skyward into the deep blue of the upper mesosphere. The whole escapade is being recorded by HD cameras. A dulcet computer-generated voice provides the commentary. The chair is uncannily comfortable. The ride, controlled by cutting-edge A.I. technology, is disconcertingly smooth. Champagne is waiting for the passengers on the landing pad.

Under such contrived conditions, awe will always be a chimera. That which we explicitly pursue will always, to a greater or lesser extent, remain out of reach.

The appeal of the sublime has been a subject of conjecture and interpretation for as long as humans have pondered the stars. Existing at the intersection of joy and fear, the feelings it can elicit are best understood as a paradox: the sensation of feeling enriched by way of feeling diminished. A person might experience it while standing on a mountainside when a storm rolls in or peering down the gullet of a thunderous waterfall. The transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson memorably called it his “transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all.” The writer Shannon Stirone described it as “the simultaneous shrinking and expanding of our hearts.”

We covet the experience of sublimity because it hints at mysteries and forces beyond the realm of ordinary human understanding. And it is good for us. Neuroscientists discovered that regular doses of awe can boost critical thinking, physical health and emotional well-being. Studies have also shown that it makes us kinder and more empathetic.

But chasing it misses an essential element of awe, which is that so much of its potency depends on factors that commercial spaceflight seems custom designed to negate.

In many years of working as a travel writer — which I’ve often thought of as working the awe beat — I’ve come to understand that awe cannot be easily choreographed.

Some of the times I have experienced awe: An hour of avalanches rumbling down the south face of Annapurna under a full moon. Fork lightning strobing across the empty deck of a cargo ship on Lake Victoria. An eagle hovering 20 feet above my shoulder in the Chilean tundra.

These were the sort of transcendental moments we might hope to enjoy when we book a trip for adventure. But what they all had in common was some unanticipated ingredient. They relied on serendipity, whether in the form of weather conditions or animal idiosyncrasy. The high-flown emotions they triggered — the sorts that manifest in goose bumps, sometimes even tears — came unbidden.

Some occasions, by contrast, when I didn’t feel awe: gorilla tracking in Uganda, seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre amid a jostling crowd of people taking photos of it with their mobile phones, every safari I’ve ever been on. These experiences were certainly noteworthy. But they were far from sublime.

Space tourism belongs to this subset of ostensibly awesome experiences that often feel anticlimactic precisely because they come with a promise of awe factored in.

For one thing, space tourists probably embark with a pretty good simulation of the experience already imprinted on their minds. Westernized and space curious, clients of the new space tourism outfits will have watched the modern canon of astronautical drama, including “Gravity” and “Interstellar.” In preflight training, they will have been drilled and prepped for every moment they will spend in suborbit. The sense of surprise that is arguably the most vital precondition for experiencing awe will have been watered down by the months of forethought and demystification.

Often, the problem is simply one of context. Do you have any preconceived expectations about the experience? How exposed are you to the thing you’re observing? Is the activity ethically fraught? These potential distractions might seem incidental. But they all have the potential to obstruct our ability to enjoy an authentic communion with the sublime.

It’s the difference between joining a 20-strong organized tour to see the Northern Lights and, say, camping alone in some Scandinavian wilderness and being roused from your tent by the aurora’s spectral green ripples illuminating the canvas. The first will be nice, even memorable. You will take pretty photos and get lots of hearts on Instagram. The second could make you feel that you have been touched by grace.

The scientific study of awe is still in its infancy, but this awe junkie’s intuition is supported by a growing body of research. “One of the most striking discoveries in our 15 years of studying awe is how often it involves finding the extraordinary in the ordinary: a friend’s generosity to a homeless person in the streets, looking at a leafy tree’s play of light and shadow on a sidewalk,” said Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at Berkeley and the author of a book on awe set for release next year.

“The best way to access this everyday awe is by allowing yourself to wander, to avoid following a schedule each moment of the day. We didn’t evolve to feel awe about hurtling through space.”

Oh, most of the space tourists will say it was awesome, as the billionaire and space tourism entrepreneur Richard Branson did: “How you feel when you look down on Earth is impossible to put into words. It’s just indescribable beauty.” But how could they say it was anything less than the best moment of their life, having shelled out hundreds of thousands for the experience? In the age of performative experientialism, in which those with economic means can be seduced by gold-wrapped steaks not because they taste good but merely because they are exclusive, this conflation of expectations with lived sensation — the mistaking of bragging rights for joy — is nothing new.

Consider, again, our millionaire astronaut in his cushioned revolving chair, as the indigo sky fades to black. The thrusters shut off, their roar giving way to the profound silence and weightlessness of the cosmic void.

While he is up there, gazing down at this godlike overview of metastasizing deserts and receding ice, the best he might hope for is a moment of clarity.

“When you get up above it,” Jeff Bezos said of the atmosphere after his inaugural flight on New Shepard in July, “it’s this tiny little fragile thing, and as we move about the planet, we’re damaging it.”

Perhaps he and other amateur astronauts are fated to recognize, in that quiet knot of bathos, that to be the Midas of an ailing planet is the ultimate spiritual impoverishment. That an act of hubris can never truly buy humility, let alone wonderment.

Why would a tourist want to take a trip to space? For the wealthy thrill seekers able to pay upwards of $450,000 for a seat with commercial space projects such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, the answer is likely to involve the pursuit of awe or wonder.

Why would a tourist want to take a trip to space? For the wealthy thrill seekers able to pay upwards of $450,000 for a seat with commercial space projects such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, the answer is likely to involve the pursuit of awe or wonder. Philosophers call the type of sensory and aesthetic stimuli that provoke it the sublime. On its face, the kind of short flight to the edge of space that looks set to be the predominant mode of space tourism, at least in the short term, seems the very definition of what the psychologist Abraham Maslow called a “peak experience.” The kinetic thrill of rocketing to an altitude of over 50 miles, combined with the astonishing perspective it affords of our planet, invites us to believe that few adventures could be more profound. But picture the millionaire awe chaser when the big day comes around, and the capsule he has booked a seat on hurtles skyward into the deep blue of the upper mesosphere. The whole escapade is being recorded by HD cameras. A dulcet computer-generated voice provides the commentary. The chair is uncannily comfortable. The ride, controlled by cutting-edge A.I. technology, is disconcertingly smooth. Champagne is waiting for the passengers on the landing pad. Under such contrived conditions, awe will always be a chimera. That which we explicitly pursue will always, to a greater or lesser extent, remain out of reach. The appeal of the sublime has been a subject of conjecture and interpretation for as long as humans have pondered the stars. Existing at the intersection of joy and fear, the feelings it can elicit are best understood as a paradox: the sensation of feeling enriched by way of feeling diminished. A person might experience it while standing on a mountainside when a storm rolls in or peering down the gullet of a thunderous waterfall. The transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson memorably called it his “transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all.” The writer Shannon Stirone described it as “the simultaneous shrinking and expanding of our hearts.” We covet the experience of sublimity because it hints at mysteries and forces beyond the realm of ordinary human understanding. And it is good for us. Neuroscientists discovered that regular doses of awe can boost critical thinking, physical health and emotional well-being. Studies have also shown that it makes us kinder and more empathetic. But chasing it misses an essential element of awe, which is that so much of its potency depends on factors that commercial spaceflight seems custom designed to negate. In many years of working as a travel writer — which I’ve often thought of as working the awe beat — I’ve come to understand that awe cannot be easily choreographed. Some of the times I have experienced awe: An hour of avalanches rumbling down the south face of Annapurna under a full moon. Fork lightning strobing across the empty deck of a cargo ship on Lake Victoria. An eagle hovering 20 feet above my shoulder in the Chilean tundra. These were the sort of transcendental moments we might hope to enjoy when we book a trip for adventure. But what they all had in common was some unanticipated ingredient. They relied on serendipity, whether in the form of weather conditions or animal idiosyncrasy. The high-flown emotions they triggered — the sorts that manifest in goose bumps, sometimes even tears — came unbidden. Some occasions, by contrast, when I didn’t feel awe: gorilla tracking in Uganda, seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre amid a jostling crowd of people taking photos of it with their mobile phones, every safari I’ve ever been on. These experiences were certainly noteworthy. But they were far from sublime. Space tourism belongs to this subset of ostensibly awesome experiences that often feel anticlimactic precisely because they come with a promise of awe factored in. For one thing, space tourists probably embark with a pretty good simulation of the experience already imprinted on their minds. Westernized and space curious, clients of the new space tourism outfits will have watched the modern canon of astronautical drama, including “Gravity” and “Interstellar.” In preflight training, they will have been drilled and prepped for every moment they will spend in suborbit. The sense of surprise that is arguably the most vital precondition for experiencing awe will have been watered down by the months of forethought and demystification. Often, the problem is simply one of context. Do you have any preconceived expectations about the experience? How exposed are you to the thing you’re observing? Is the activity ethically fraught? These potential distractions might seem incidental. But they all have the potential to obstruct our ability to enjoy an authentic communion with the sublime. It’s the difference between joining a 20-strong organized tour to see the Northern Lights and, say, camping alone in some Scandinavian wilderness and being roused from your tent by the aurora’s spectral green ripples illuminating the canvas. The first will be nice, even memorable. You will take pretty photos and get lots of hearts on Instagram. The second could make you feel that you have been touched by grace. The scientific study of awe is still in its infancy, but this awe junkie’s intuition is supported by a growing body of research. “One of the most striking discoveries in our 15 years of studying awe is how often it involves finding the extraordinary in the ordinary: a friend’s generosity to a homeless person in the streets, looking at a leafy tree’s play of light and shadow on a sidewalk,” said Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at Berkeley and the author of a book on awe set for release next year. “The best way to access this everyday awe is by allowing yourself to wander, to avoid following a schedule each moment of the day. We didn’t evolve to feel awe about hurtling through space.” Oh, most of the space tourists will say it was awesome, as the billionaire and space tourism entrepreneur Richard Branson did: “How you feel when you look down on Earth is impossible to put into words. It’s just indescribable beauty.” But how could they say it was anything less than the best moment of their life, having shelled out hundreds of thousands for the experience? In the age of performative experientialism, in which those with economic means can be seduced by gold-wrapped steaks not because they taste good but merely because they are exclusive, this conflation of expectations with lived sensation — the mistaking of bragging rights for joy — is nothing new. Consider, again, our millionaire astronaut in his cushioned revolving chair, as the indigo sky fades to black. The thrusters shut off, their roar giving way to the profound silence and weightlessness of the cosmic void. While he is up there, gazing down at this godlike overview of metastasizing deserts and receding ice, the best he might hope for is a moment of clarity. “When you get up above it,” Jeff Bezos said of the atmosphere after his inaugural flight on New Shepard in July, “it’s this tiny little fragile thing, and as we move about the planet, we’re damaging it.” Perhaps he and other amateur astronauts are fated to recognize, in that quiet knot of bathos, that to be the Midas of an ailing planet is the ultimate spiritual impoverishment. That an act of hubris can never truly buy humility, let alone wonderment.

Why space tourists won’t find the awe they seek

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the self-funded space explorer, has predicted that Earth will soon be turned into a natural resort as only a few people will be allowed to stay here in the future.<o:p></o:p>

"This place is special, we can't ruin it," the billionaire said at the annual Ignatius Forum in Washington, DC. Talking about his own company, Blue Origin, he said the experts aim to make sure that millions of humans get to not just work in space but also be born and call space as their first home.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-bezos-is-pouring-money-to-crack-secret-of-living-forever-412737">Jeff Bezos is pouring money to crack secret of living 'forever'</a></o:p>

"Millions of people will move from Earth to space over time. And that's the vision of Blue Origin – millions of people working in space,"&nbsp;Bezos said. <o:p></o:p>

"Over centuries, most or many of the people will be born in space. It will be their first home. They will be born on these colonies, they will live on these colonies. They may visit Earth the way you would visit Yellowstone National Park," he predicted.<o:p></o:p>

Bezos believes that the space colonies in future will have 'rivers and forests and wildlife'&nbsp;of their own. He also claimed that it is inevitable to expand the living zones for humans if the race continues growing at the same rate. "This Earth can support, let's say, 10 billion people to a certain degree. We'd have to work really hard to figure out how to do that without degrading the planet… The solar system can support a trillion people,"&nbsp;he said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/entrepreneur-who-flew-with-william-shatner-onboard-blue-origin-to-space-dies-in-plane-crash-428977">Entrepreneur who flew with William Shatner onboard Blue Origin to space dies in plane crash</a></o:p>

Even though the billionaire is quite positive about shifting humanity to space and keeping the Earth for a selected few, he was hesitant about claiming who will get to decide who stays on Earth. He also said his company can be labelled as 'Earth ambassadors' in future.<o:p></o:p>

"The hard part is not space travel – that part was solved in the 1960s. Not reusability – the space shuttle sort of did that. The hard part is operational reusability,"&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;"It requires practice to get it right."<o:p></o:p>

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the self-funded space explorer, has predicted that Earth will soon be turned into a natural resort as only a few people will be allowed to stay here in the future.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the self-funded space explorer, has predicted that Earth will soon be turned into a natural resort as only a few people will be allowed to stay here in the future. "This place is special, we can't ruin it," the billionaire said at the annual Ignatius Forum in Washington, DC. Talking about his own company, Blue Origin, he said the experts aim to make sure that millions of humans get to not just work in space but also be born and call space as their first home. Also read | Jeff Bezos is pouring money to crack secret of living 'forever' "Millions of people will move from Earth to space over time. And that's the vision of Blue Origin – millions of people working in space," Bezos said. "Over centuries, most or many of the people will be born in space. It will be their first home. They will be born on these colonies, they will live on these colonies. They may visit Earth the way you would visit Yellowstone National Park," he predicted. Bezos believes that the space colonies in future will have 'rivers and forests and wildlife' of their own. He also claimed that it is inevitable to expand the living zones for humans if the race continues growing at the same rate. "This Earth can support, let's say, 10 billion people to a certain degree. We'd have to work really hard to figure out how to do that without degrading the planet… The solar system can support a trillion people," he said. Also read | Entrepreneur who flew with William Shatner onboard Blue Origin to space dies in plane crash Even though the billionaire is quite positive about shifting humanity to space and keeping the Earth for a selected few, he was hesitant about claiming who will get to decide who stays on Earth. He also said his company can be labelled as 'Earth ambassadors' in future. "The hard part is not space travel – that part was solved in the 1960s. Not reusability – the space shuttle sort of did that. The hard part is operational reusability," he said. "It requires practice to get it right."

Earth ambassadors? Jeff Bezos predicts planet will soon become 'natural resort'

Hollywood star Tom Hanks, 65, was reportedly offered a space flight on Blue Origin rocket by Jeff Bezos, however, the "Finch" star turned it down.

The price tag for the space journey was apparently $28 million, so Hanks decided to give it a miss. Hanks was reportedly asked if he wanted to take the space trip&nbsp;before Star&nbsp;Trek legend William Shatner.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/life-changing-as-blue-origin-touches-down-william-shatner-becomes-oldest-man-to-fly-to-space-420485">Also Read|&nbsp;'Life changing',&nbsp;says Shatner after space flight</a>

Hanks while speaking to a US television channel said, "I ain't paying 28 [million] bucks", instead he jokingly added that they could "simulate the experience of going to space".

Shatner, 90, had travelled to space aboard the New Shepard rocket. The veteran star became the oldest person in the world to travel to space. Shatner had said it was the "most profound experience I can imagine".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bezos-vs-musk-nasa-halts-spacex-work-on-lunar-lander-after-blue-origin-lawsuit-407174">Also Read|&nbsp;Bezos vs Musk: NASA halts SpaceX work on lunar lander after Blue Origin lawsuit</a>

Bezos himself had taken the space flight in July with his brother Mark, Wally Funk, 82, and 18-year-old student Oliver Daemen.

Blue Origin had announced plans recently to launch a space station named "Orbital Reef" which would like a &nbsp;"business park" in space.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-dark-up-here-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-fulfills-childhood-dream-in-blue-origin-space-flight-399269">Also Read|&nbsp;'It's dark up here': Amazon founder Jeff Bezos fulfills childhood dream</a>

The company said it will "normalise space flight" while asserting that it will expand access and provide amenities at a lower cost. "Orbital Reef" is likely to fly above the International Space Station(ISS).

(With inputs from Agencies)

Hollywood star Tom Hanks, 65, was reportedly offered a space flight on Blue Origin rocket by Jeff Bezos, however, the "Finch" star turned it down. The price tag for the space journey was apparently $28 million, so Hanks decided to give it a miss.

Hollywood star Tom Hanks, 65, was reportedly offered a space flight on Blue Origin rocket by Jeff Bezos, however, the "Finch" star turned it down. The price tag for the space journey was apparently $28 million, so Hanks decided to give it a miss. Hanks was reportedly asked if he wanted to take the space trip before Star Trek legend William Shatner. Also Read| 'Life changing', says Shatner after space flight Hanks while speaking to a US television channel said, "I ain't paying 28 [million] bucks", instead he jokingly added that they could "simulate the experience of going to space". Shatner, 90, had travelled to space aboard the New Shepard rocket. The veteran star became the oldest person in the world to travel to space. Shatner had said it was the "most profound experience I can imagine". Also Read| Bezos vs Musk: NASA halts SpaceX work on lunar lander after Blue Origin lawsuit Bezos himself had taken the space flight in July with his brother Mark, Wally Funk, 82, and 18-year-old student Oliver Daemen. Blue Origin had announced plans recently to launch a space station named "Orbital Reef" which would like a "business park" in space. Also Read| 'It's dark up here': Amazon founder Jeff Bezos fulfills childhood dream The company said it will "normalise space flight" while asserting that it will expand access and provide amenities at a lower cost. "Orbital Reef" is likely to fly above the International Space Station(ISS). (With inputs from Agencies)

'I ain't paying': Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos' offer to take Blue Origin space flight

Jeff Bezos' space tourism company Blue Origin has announced plans to develop and operate a commercial space station, named Orbital Reef. It's expected to begin operating by the second half of this decade.

Bezos' Blue Origin plans commercial space station

Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin unveiled its plans for a private space station called “Orbital Reef”, which is expected to be deployed between 2025 and 2030.

Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space

Billionaire Jeff&nbsp;Bezos-owned Blue Origin has&nbsp;unveiled a plan for launching a commercial space station in the&nbsp;second half of the decade.

Known as "Orbital Reef" the venture&nbsp;will be nearly as big as the International Space Station (ISS) and will house up to 10 people.

The aim of the&nbsp;"mixed-use business park" is&nbsp;to provide the infrastructure needed to scale economic activity and open new markets in space.

It will fly at an altitude of 500 kilometres (310 miles) with inhabitants experiencing 32 sunrises and sunsets a day.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-a-blast-the-rush-of-amateur-astronauts-420637" hreflang="en">What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts</a>

According to Blue Origin executive Brent Sherwood, "For over sixty years, NASA and other space agencies have developed orbital space flight and space habitation, setting us up for commercial business to take off in this decade."&nbsp;

"We will expand access, lower the cost, and provide all the services and amenities needed to normalise space flight."

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/want-to-become-a-space-tourist-here-is-all-you-need-to-do-399437" hreflang="en">Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do</a>

Blue Origin will work in collaboration with Boeing, Sierra Space, the spaceflight wing of defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corp, and will be backed by Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University.

Blue Origin holds a contract with a company called Axiom to develop a space station that will initially dock with the ISS and later become free-flying.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420" hreflang="en">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

Space services company Nanoracks, along with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, had also announced a planned space station last week. Known as Starlab, it will be operational by 2027.

Bezos had completed a successful space tourism flight along with pioneering female aviator Wally Funk and two others on board in July.

The race to commercialise space is heating up with big companies such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic giving tough competition to Blue Origin.

Bezos aims to space colonies with artificial gravity where millions of people will work and live, freeing Earth from pollution.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin has unveiled a plan for launching a commercial space station in the second half of the decade. Known as "Orbital Reef" the venture will be nearly as big as the International Space Station (ISS) and will house up to 10 people.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin has unveiled a plan for launching a commercial space station in the second half of the decade. Known as "Orbital Reef" the venture will be nearly as big as the International Space Station (ISS) and will house up to 10 people. The aim of the "mixed-use business park" is to provide the infrastructure needed to scale economic activity and open new markets in space. It will fly at an altitude of 500 kilometres (310 miles) with inhabitants experiencing 32 sunrises and sunsets a day. Also see | What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts According to Blue Origin executive Brent Sherwood, "For over sixty years, NASA and other space agencies have developed orbital space flight and space habitation, setting us up for commercial business to take off in this decade." "We will expand access, lower the cost, and provide all the services and amenities needed to normalise space flight." Also see | Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do Blue Origin will work in collaboration with Boeing, Sierra Space, the spaceflight wing of defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corp, and will be backed by Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University. Blue Origin holds a contract with a company called Axiom to develop a space station that will initially dock with the ISS and later become free-flying. Also see | Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Space services company Nanoracks, along with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, had also announced a planned space station last week. Known as Starlab, it will be operational by 2027. Bezos had completed a successful space tourism flight along with pioneering female aviator Wally Funk and two others on board in July. The race to commercialise space is heating up with big companies such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic giving tough competition to Blue Origin. Bezos aims to space colonies with artificial gravity where millions of people will work and live, freeing Earth from pollution.

Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station

What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts

Star Trek legend William Shatner, 90, after travelling to space on the Blue Origin rocket said it was an "unbelievable" experience.

Shatner who played the role of Captain James Kirk in the hit television series was in space for 11 minutes and then landed in the Texas desert.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/life-changing-as-blue-origin-touches-down-william-shatner-becomes-oldest-man-to-fly-to-space-420485">Also Read:&nbsp;As Blue Origin touches down, William Shatner becomes oldest man to fly to space</a>

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket had blasted off from Texas with Shatner on board on Wednesday evening.

<img alt="Shatner" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="636e74eb-701b-491c-9a77-74c8bb464b26" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sha2.jpg" />

"What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine," Shatner told Bezos who owns the rocket company.

"I am so filled with emotion about what just happened," Shatner said as&nbsp;Bezos embraced him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-william-shatner-is-terrified-to-go-into-space-419050">Also Read:&nbsp;William Shatner is 'terrified' to go into space</a>

The rocket travelled 106 km above the Earth's surface marking the second space tourism flight for Blue Origin.

<img alt="William Shatner" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f041b784-18a7-4fd4-b3ed-d52e67ac9320" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sha3.jpg" />

"You're looking into blackness, into black ugliness," Shatner said. "And you look down, there's the blue down there - and the black up there - and it's just, there is Mother Earth."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/william-shatner-says-he-has-never-watched-an-episode-of-star-trek-373892">Also Read:&nbsp;William Shatner says he has 'never watched' an episode of Star Trek</a>

"This is life and that's death, and in an instant, you know - whoa - that's death," Shatner said. "That's what I saw."&nbsp;

Bezos had undertaken the space flight back in July along with his brother Mark and aviator Wally Funk, 82, and 19-year-old Oliver Daeman.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

Star Trek legend William Shatner, 90, after travelling to space on the Blue Origin rocket said it was an "unbelievable" experience. Shatner who played the role of Captain James Kirk in the hit television series was in space for 11 minutes and then landed in the Texas desert.

Star Trek legend William Shatner, 90, after travelling to space on the Blue Origin rocket said it was an "unbelievable" experience. Shatner who played the role of Captain James Kirk in the hit television series was in space for 11 minutes and then landed in the Texas desert. Also Read: As Blue Origin touches down, William Shatner becomes oldest man to fly to space Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket had blasted off from Texas with Shatner on board on Wednesday evening. "What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine," Shatner told Bezos who owns the rocket company. "I am so filled with emotion about what just happened," Shatner said as Bezos embraced him. Also Read: William Shatner is 'terrified' to go into space The rocket travelled 106 km above the Earth's surface marking the second space tourism flight for Blue Origin. "You're looking into blackness, into black ugliness," Shatner said. "And you look down, there's the blue down there - and the black up there - and it's just, there is Mother Earth." Also Read: William Shatner says he has 'never watched' an episode of Star Trek "This is life and that's death, and in an instant, you know - whoa - that's death," Shatner said. "That's what I saw." Bezos had undertaken the space flight back in July along with his brother Mark and aviator Wally Funk, 82, and 19-year-old Oliver Daeman. (With inputs from Agencies)

I am so filled with emotion, Shatner tells Bezos after space flight

The much-waited and talked about launch of Blue Origin took place, making the Hollywood actor, William Shatner, the oldest man to fly to space.<o:p></o:p>

Blue Origin’s New Shephard’s second human flight of all civilians carried legendary Star Trek action William Shatner, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries into space.

<o:p><img alt="Blue Origin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc718b5b-e34a-44f0-b2f5-caa2ed660eaf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Blue%20Origin%20%282%29.jpg" /></o:p>

New Shephard's&nbsp;NS-18 flight took nearly 11 minutes and once again crossed the&nbsp;Kármán Line, which is the internationally recognised border between the Earth and space.

As the 90-year-old made history by becoming the oldest man to fly to space, he quoted&nbsp;Sir Isaac Newton to mark his historic achievement. "I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore,&nbsp;&nbsp;diverting myself in now &amp; then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me," his pre-scheduled tweet read.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, diverting myself in now &amp; then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.🚀 <a href="https://t.co/ZY2Ka8ij7z">pic.twitter.com/ZY2Ka8ij7z</a>
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1448300996015181842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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While the four astronauts were descending in the capsule, William Shatner was&nbsp;hard saying,&nbsp;"that was unlike anything they described."

After a comfortable descend at&nbsp;16 mph / 26 km/h, the four civilian-astronauts landed in the West&nbsp;Texas desert at&nbsp;1 mph / 1.6 km/h. The four new astronauts were greeted by the Founder of Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, and their friends and families.<img src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/bodyeditor/202110/Shatner_1_1-x675.jpg?nzEjw9bq8JU9oQ6NE_7xKVH.CMClvNZh" />

This mission marked the second successful crew launch of Blue Origin's all-civilian New Shephard rocket. The first successful all-civilian flight of Blue Origin had Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and&nbsp;Oliver Daeman.

Three out of four astronauts sent out messages of strength, appreciation and motivation to the second crew.&nbsp;"You lucky bastards. It was only 10 weeks ago I was&nbsp;sitting where you are watching&nbsp;the countdown clock full of&nbsp;anticipation and excitement,&nbsp;eager to feel the rumble of&nbsp;liftoff and the majesty of&nbsp;weightlessness.&nbsp;The depth of my desire to fly&nbsp;again is hard to express," Jeff Bezos said.

The much-waited and talked about launch of Blue Origin took place, making the Hollywood actor, William Shatner, the oldest man to fly to space. Blue Origin’s New Shephard’s second human flight of all civilians carried legendary Star Trek action William Shatner, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries into space.

The much-waited and talked about launch of Blue Origin took place, making the Hollywood actor, William Shatner, the oldest man to fly to space. Blue Origin’s New Shephard’s second human flight of all civilians carried legendary Star Trek action William Shatner, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries into space. New Shephard's NS-18 flight took nearly 11 minutes and once again crossed the Kármán Line, which is the internationally recognised border between the Earth and space. As the 90-year-old made history by becoming the oldest man to fly to space, he quoted Sir Isaac Newton to mark his historic achievement. "I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, diverting myself in now & then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me," his pre-scheduled tweet read. I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, diverting myself in now & then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.🚀 pic.twitter.com/ZY2Ka8ij7z — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 13, 2021 × While the four astronauts were descending in the capsule, William Shatner was hard saying, "that was unlike anything they described." After a comfortable descend at 16 mph / 26 km/h, the four civilian-astronauts landed in the West Texas desert at 1 mph / 1.6 km/h. The four new astronauts were greeted by the Founder of Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, and their friends and families. This mission marked the second successful crew launch of Blue Origin's all-civilian New Shephard rocket. The first successful all-civilian flight of Blue Origin had Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daeman. Three out of four astronauts sent out messages of strength, appreciation and motivation to the second crew. "You lucky bastards. It was only 10 weeks ago I was sitting where you are watching the countdown clock full of anticipation and excitement, eager to feel the rumble of liftoff and the majesty of weightlessness. The depth of my desire to fly again is hard to express," Jeff Bezos said.

'Life changing': As Blue Origin touches down, William Shatner becomes oldest man to fly to space

Three months after billionaire US businessman Jeff Bezos soared into space, his Blue Origin is set to launch its new rocket for the fifth time this year. Canadian actor William Shatner will join the second crewed spaceflight for the company.

William Shatner to go to space with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin

We told you about William Shatner’s plan about going into space and we now have an update on that -- apparently he’s terrified of the idea.&nbsp;

At a panel discussion at New York Comic-Con, William Shatner said, “My friend Jason Erhlick came to me about a year and a half ago and he said he was seeing these rockets with people going into space. And, wouldn’t it be something if Captain Kirk went up there? And I said, ‘Jason, for God’s sake, man. Nobody cares if Captain Kirk goes to space. It was 55 years ago, man. But I’m doing well, maybe I should go up to space?”

William Shatner will become the oldest person to go to space once this happens. It was announced last week that the actor will explore the final frontier for real on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Spaceflight.&nbsp;

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At the Comic-Con, Shatner said, “I don’t want to be the oldest guy to go into space.”

While discussing his trip to Texas in preparation for his space flight, Shatner recalled the 1986 Challenger crash that killed all the astronauts on board. He said the people in charge of his flight repeatedly said everything should be fine, which wasn’t of much comfort for the actor. Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-jimmy-fallon-makes-squid-game-cast-play-games-as-they-appear-on-the-tonight-show-419015" hreflang="en">Jimmy Fallon makes 'Squid Game' cast play games as they appear on The Tonight Show</a>

“And I’m thinking, ‘I’m going up in a rocket and our best guess is it should be fine?” he shared. “I’m terrified. I’m Captain Kirk, and I’m terrified. I’m not really terrified — yes I am. It comes and goes like a summer cold. I’m planning on putting my nose against the window [once I’m in space], and my only hope is I won’t see someone else looking back.”

'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/no-time-to-die-to-you-what-to-watch-on-ott-and-theatres-in-october-417303" hreflang="en">No Time To Die' to 'You': What to watch on OTT and theatres in October</a>

There are no further details on the trip as of yet.&nbsp;

We told you about William Shatner’s plan about going into space and we now have an update on that -- apparently he’s terrified of the idea. At a panel discussion at New York Comic-Con, William Shatner said, “My friend Jason Erhlick came to me about a year and a half ago and he said he was seeing these rockets with people going into space.

We told you about William Shatner’s plan about going into space and we now have an update on that -- apparently he’s terrified of the idea. At a panel discussion at New York Comic-Con, William Shatner said, “My friend Jason Erhlick came to me about a year and a half ago and he said he was seeing these rockets with people going into space. And, wouldn’t it be something if Captain Kirk went up there? And I said, ‘Jason, for God’s sake, man. Nobody cares if Captain Kirk goes to space. It was 55 years ago, man. But I’m doing well, maybe I should go up to space?” William Shatner will become the oldest person to go to space once this happens. It was announced last week that the actor will explore the final frontier for real on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Spaceflight. Grey's Anatomy to welcome back Addison with a grand entry At the Comic-Con, Shatner said, “I don’t want to be the oldest guy to go into space.” While discussing his trip to Texas in preparation for his space flight, Shatner recalled the 1986 Challenger crash that killed all the astronauts on board. He said the people in charge of his flight repeatedly said everything should be fine, which wasn’t of much comfort for the actor. Also Read: Jimmy Fallon makes 'Squid Game' cast play games as they appear on The Tonight Show “And I’m thinking, ‘I’m going up in a rocket and our best guess is it should be fine?” he shared. “I’m terrified. I’m Captain Kirk, and I’m terrified. I’m not really terrified — yes I am. It comes and goes like a summer cold. I’m planning on putting my nose against the window [once I’m in space], and my only hope is I won’t see someone else looking back.” 'No Time To Die' to 'You': What to watch on OTT and theatres in October There are no further details on the trip as of yet.

William Shatner is 'terrified' to go into space

Blue Origin on Monday confirmed William Shatner, who starred as Captain James T. Kirk in the original 'Star Trek' series, will fly to space October 12 aboard the company's crewed rocket, becoming the oldest ever astronaut.

"I've heard about space for a long time now. I'm taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle," said the 90-year-old actor in a statement by Jeff Bezos's space company.

The science fiction television show aired for only three seasons starting in 1966, but was hugely influential in popular culture and spawned several movies and spin-off series.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/business-economy/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-accused-of-toxic-work-culture-involving-sexual-harassment-417357" hreflang="en">Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin accused of 'toxic' work culture involving sexual harassment</a>

It was notable for the utopian vision of its creator Gene Rodenberry, who envisaged a society where humanity had put aside its divisions and united with other peaceful space-faring civilizations.

Shatner, as Kirk, commanded the USS Enterprise on a five-year mission "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go&nbsp;where no man has gone before."

His actual voyage to space will be far shorter -- about 10 minutes, in a flight that will take the crew just beyond the Karman Line 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the Earth.

Blue Origin also announced the identity of the remaining passenger, Audrey Powers, the company's vice president of mission and flight operations.

They will join Chris Boshuizen, a former NASA engineer and co-founder of Planet Labs, and Glen de Vries, a co-founder of clinical research platform Medidata Solutions, on the sub-orbital flight.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/blue-origin-to-launch-new-shepard-spacecraft-today-with-nasas-lunar-landing-tech-408489" hreflang="en">Blue Origin to launch New Shepard spacecraft today with NASA's lunar landing tech</a>

The news comes as Bezos's company is under a cloud of allegations relating to a "toxic" work culture with rampant sexual harassment.

The claims, firmly rejected by Blue Origin, were outlined in a lengthy blog post signed by Alexandra Abrams, the company's former head of employee communications, last week.

The post said it also represented the views of 20 other workers and ex-workers in various divisions who wanted to remain anonymous.

Abrams and her co-authors further alleged the company had a pattern of decision-making that prioritized speedy rocket development over safety, and that several of them would not feel safe in the company's New Shepard rocket.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/bezos-vs-musk-nasa-halts-spacex-work-on-lunar-lander-after-blue-origin-lawsuit-407174" hreflang="en">Bezos vs Musk: NASA halts SpaceX work on lunar lander after Blue Origin lawsuit</a>

Bezos, the world's wealthiest man, his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and paying customer Oliver Daemen flew into space on Blue Origin's first crewed flight on July 20.

Blue Origin on Monday confirmed William Shatner, who starred as Captain James T. Kirk in the original 'Star Trek' series, will fly to space October 12 aboard the company's crewed rocket, becoming the oldest ever astronaut.

Blue Origin on Monday confirmed William Shatner, who starred as Captain James T. Kirk in the original 'Star Trek' series, will fly to space October 12 aboard the company's crewed rocket, becoming the oldest ever astronaut. "I've heard about space for a long time now. I'm taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle," said the 90-year-old actor in a statement by Jeff Bezos's space company. The science fiction television show aired for only three seasons starting in 1966, but was hugely influential in popular culture and spawned several movies and spin-off series. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin accused of 'toxic' work culture involving sexual harassment It was notable for the utopian vision of its creator Gene Rodenberry, who envisaged a society where humanity had put aside its divisions and united with other peaceful space-faring civilizations. Shatner, as Kirk, commanded the USS Enterprise on a five-year mission "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." His actual voyage to space will be far shorter -- about 10 minutes, in a flight that will take the crew just beyond the Karman Line 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the Earth. Blue Origin also announced the identity of the remaining passenger, Audrey Powers, the company's vice president of mission and flight operations. They will join Chris Boshuizen, a former NASA engineer and co-founder of Planet Labs, and Glen de Vries, a co-founder of clinical research platform Medidata Solutions, on the sub-orbital flight. Blue Origin to launch New Shepard spacecraft today with NASA's lunar landing tech The news comes as Bezos's company is under a cloud of allegations relating to a "toxic" work culture with rampant sexual harassment. The claims, firmly rejected by Blue Origin, were outlined in a lengthy blog post signed by Alexandra Abrams, the company's former head of employee communications, last week. The post said it also represented the views of 20 other workers and ex-workers in various divisions who wanted to remain anonymous. Abrams and her co-authors further alleged the company had a pattern of decision-making that prioritized speedy rocket development over safety, and that several of them would not feel safe in the company's New Shepard rocket. Bezos vs Musk: NASA halts SpaceX work on lunar lander after Blue Origin lawsuit Bezos, the world's wealthiest man, his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and paying customer Oliver Daemen flew into space on Blue Origin's first crewed flight on July 20.

Blue Origin confirms Star Trek's William Shatner will fly to space

A group of more than 20 current and former employees have levelled serious allegations of of sexism at Blue Origin, a space company founded by Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.

Sexist, toxic environment at Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin?

Tech billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Thursday faced accusations of having 'toxic' work culture. The claim was made by a group of current and former Blue Origin employees. The allegations also say that sexual harassment was rampant in the company&nbsp;and there was a pattern of decision making that prioritized speedy rocket development over safety.&nbsp;

Blue Origin has firmly rejected the allegations. The allegations were outlined in a lengthy blogpost which was signed by Alexandra Abrams, the company's former head of employee communications

The post also said that it represented views of 20 other workers and ex-workers. The blogpost said that these individuals wanted to remain anonymous.

"Workforce gender gaps are common in the space industry, but at Blue Origin they also manifest in a particular brand of sexism," it said.

One senior executive was said to have reported for sexual harassment multiple times, but remained within the "loyal inner circle" of CEO Bob Smith.

Another former executive frequently referred to women co-workers as "'baby girl,' 'baby doll,' or 'sweetheart'" and inquired about their dating lives, the post added.

"It appeared to many of us that he was protected by his close personal relationship with Bezos -- it took him physically groping a female subordinate for him to finally be let go," the authors said.

They also said a former NASA astronaut and Blue Origin senior leader once instructed a group of women: "You should ask my opinion because I am a man."

Abrams and her co-authors further claimed that the company romanticized burnout, suppressed dissent, and was obsessed with competing with rivals SpaceX and Virgin Galactic in the race to launch their billionaire founders, thus compromising safety.

"In the opinion of an engineer who has signed on to this essay, 'Blue Origin has been lucky that nothing has happened so far,'" they said.

A Blue Origin spokesperson denied the allegations, saying Abrams was dismissed two years ago after warnings over issues involving US export control regulations.

"Blue Origin has no tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind," the spokesperson added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tech billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Thursday faced accusations of having 'toxic' work culture. The claim was made by a group of current and former Blue Origin employees.

Tech billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Thursday faced accusations of having 'toxic' work culture. The claim was made by a group of current and former Blue Origin employees. The allegations also say that sexual harassment was rampant in the company and there was a pattern of decision making that prioritized speedy rocket development over safety. Blue Origin has firmly rejected the allegations. The allegations were outlined in a lengthy blogpost which was signed by Alexandra Abrams, the company's former head of employee communications The post also said that it represented views of 20 other workers and ex-workers. The blogpost said that these individuals wanted to remain anonymous. "Workforce gender gaps are common in the space industry, but at Blue Origin they also manifest in a particular brand of sexism," it said. One senior executive was said to have reported for sexual harassment multiple times, but remained within the "loyal inner circle" of CEO Bob Smith. Another former executive frequently referred to women co-workers as "'baby girl,' 'baby doll,' or 'sweetheart'" and inquired about their dating lives, the post added. "It appeared to many of us that he was protected by his close personal relationship with Bezos -- it took him physically groping a female subordinate for him to finally be let go," the authors said. They also said a former NASA astronaut and Blue Origin senior leader once instructed a group of women: "You should ask my opinion because I am a man." Abrams and her co-authors further claimed that the company romanticized burnout, suppressed dissent, and was obsessed with competing with rivals SpaceX and Virgin Galactic in the race to launch their billionaire founders, thus compromising safety. "In the opinion of an engineer who has signed on to this essay, 'Blue Origin has been lucky that nothing has happened so far,'" they said. A Blue Origin spokesperson denied the allegations, saying Abrams was dismissed two years ago after warnings over issues involving US export control regulations. "Blue Origin has no tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind," the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies)

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin accused of 'toxic' work culture involving sexual harassment

After becoming the world's richest person by crossing $200 billion in net worth,&nbsp;SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joked that he would be sending a "giant statue&nbsp;of the digit '2' along with a silver medal"&nbsp;to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Bezos had crossed the magic figure of $200 billion last year as Amazon shares surged. According to Forbes, Tesla shares have been skyrocketing since the pandemic began as Musk's net worth has zoomed.

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Musk and Bezos have become rivals in space exploration with SpaceX and Bezos’ Blue Origin competing against each other. Musk has&nbsp;become the third person after Bezos and LVMH Moët Hennessy CEO Bernard Arnault to hit the $200 billion mark.

Musk has been taking digs at Amazon repeatedly on Twitter. The Tesla chief reportedly said earlier that Bezos had "retired to pursue a full-time job filing lawsuits against SpaceX" after Amazon protested against Starlink's expansion.

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Starlink is a satellite internet service started by SpaceX which has become the latest battleground between the two tech giants. SpaceX had recently sent an all-civilian crew with no professional astronauts on board marking the third time the company had taken humans to space.&nbsp;

SpaceX is reportedly trying to boost space tourism as the company said more and more people have been trying to take up space travel. SpaceX plans to carry out the next civilian trip in January next year.

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Not to be outdone, reports say Blue Origin may be sending actor William Shatner, 90, who played Captain Kirk in the legendry "Star Trek" series for the next space flight. Blue Origin will be launching its New Shepard rocket on October 12.

Bezos had earlier taken the spaceflight himself along with his brother Mark including aviator Wally Funkt,82, and Oliver Daemen.

(With inputs from Agencies)

After becoming the world's richest person by crossing $200 billion in net worth, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joked that he would be sending a "giant statue of the digit '2' along with a silver medal" to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

After becoming the world's richest person by crossing $200 billion in net worth, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joked that he would be sending a "giant statue of the digit '2' along with a silver medal" to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Bezos had crossed the magic figure of $200 billion last year as Amazon shares surged. According to Forbes, Tesla shares have been skyrocketing since the pandemic began as Musk's net worth has zoomed. Also Read: How Zuckerberg, Bezos sustain their crazy diet with goat, iguana and Mediterranean octopus Musk and Bezos have become rivals in space exploration with SpaceX and Bezos’ Blue Origin competing against each other. Musk has become the third person after Bezos and LVMH Moët Hennessy CEO Bernard Arnault to hit the $200 billion mark. Musk has been taking digs at Amazon repeatedly on Twitter. The Tesla chief reportedly said earlier that Bezos had "retired to pursue a full-time job filing lawsuits against SpaceX" after Amazon protested against Starlink's expansion. Also Read: Bezos won't pay taxes as an act of kindness, says UK PM Johnson Starlink is a satellite internet service started by SpaceX which has become the latest battleground between the two tech giants. SpaceX had recently sent an all-civilian crew with no professional astronauts on board marking the third time the company had taken humans to space. SpaceX is reportedly trying to boost space tourism as the company said more and more people have been trying to take up space travel. SpaceX plans to carry out the next civilian trip in January next year. Also Read: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, others lose over $26 billion wealth due to Evergrande crisis Not to be outdone, reports say Blue Origin may be sending actor William Shatner, 90, who played Captain Kirk in the legendry "Star Trek" series for the next space flight. Blue Origin will be launching its New Shepard rocket on October 12. Bezos had earlier taken the spaceflight himself along with his brother Mark including aviator Wally Funkt,82, and Oliver Daemen. (With inputs from Agencies)

Rich list battle: Musk says will send Bezos a 'silver medal' and a 'giant statue' of number 2

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will launch the New Shepard spacecraft on August 26, 2021.&nbsp;

As per a public statement by Blue Origins, the spacecraft will be carrying a NASA lunar landing tech on the external boosters and other commercial payloads inside the capsule.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewShepard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewShepard</a> NS-17 is go for launch tomorrow at 8:35 AM CDT / 13:35 UTC with the second flight of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a>'s lunar landing technology demonstration on board. Live webcast starts at T-30 mins on <a href="https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr">https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr</a> <a href="https://t.co/hRTUojHsR4">pic.twitter.com/hRTUojHsR4</a>
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1430569091371253760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also, the spacecraft has already flown to space with Jeff Bezos, his brother, Wally Funk, and another passenger in July 2021.&nbsp;

“This will be the 4th flight for the New Shepard program this year and the 8th flight for this particular vehicle, which is dedicated to flying scientific and research payloads to space and back,” Blue Origin said in a statement on August 23.

The NS-17 flight, which was flown for the first time in October 2020, is all set to test further a suite of lunar landing technologies.&nbsp;

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This is being done to reduce risk and increase confidence for successful missions to the Moon in its latest spaceflight.

“The technologies could allow future missions—both crewed and robotic—to target landing sites that weren’t possible during the Apollo missions, such as regions with varied terrain near craters,” said Blue Origins.

For the first-ever time, NS-17 will also feature the Suborbital Tryptych, which is a series of portraits by Amoako Boafo, a Ghanaian artist, on the top of the capsule which houses the crew.&nbsp;

The flight remains to be controversial among scientists and space enthusiasts. Famous astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson called out the Blue Origin's flight did not cross the Karman Line, which is considered as the threshold for the beginning of space.&nbsp;

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will launch the New Shepard spacecraft on August 26, 2021. As per a public statement by Blue Origins, the spacecraft will be carrying a NASA lunar landing tech on the external boosters and other commercial payloads inside the capsule.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will launch the New Shepard spacecraft on August 26, 2021. As per a public statement by Blue Origins, the spacecraft will be carrying a NASA lunar landing tech on the external boosters and other commercial payloads inside the capsule. #NewShepard NS-17 is go for launch tomorrow at 8:35 AM CDT / 13:35 UTC with the second flight of @NASA's lunar landing technology demonstration on board. Live webcast starts at T-30 mins on https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr pic.twitter.com/hRTUojHsR4 — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) August 25, 2021 × Also, the spacecraft has already flown to space with Jeff Bezos, his brother, Wally Funk, and another passenger in July 2021. “This will be the 4th flight for the New Shepard program this year and the 8th flight for this particular vehicle, which is dedicated to flying scientific and research payloads to space and back,” Blue Origin said in a statement on August 23. The NS-17 flight, which was flown for the first time in October 2020, is all set to test further a suite of lunar landing technologies. Also read | Former Afghanistan minister now delivers pizzas in Germany: Report This is being done to reduce risk and increase confidence for successful missions to the Moon in its latest spaceflight. “The technologies could allow future missions—both crewed and robotic—to target landing sites that weren’t possible during the Apollo missions, such as regions with varied terrain near craters,” said Blue Origins. For the first-ever time, NS-17 will also feature the Suborbital Tryptych, which is a series of portraits by Amoako Boafo, a Ghanaian artist, on the top of the capsule which houses the crew. The flight remains to be controversial among scientists and space enthusiasts. Famous astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson called out the Blue Origin's flight did not cross the Karman Line, which is considered as the threshold for the beginning of space.

Blue Origin to launch New Shepard spacecraft today with NASA's lunar landing tech

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