Blue Origin capsule touches down, Bezos & three others back home
Photograph: (AFP)
<p>Amazon founder<strong> Jeff Bezos</strong>,57, travelled to space in his <strong>Blue Origin rocket</strong> lifting off from a Texas desert beyond the Karman line and back home on Earth.</p> <p>Bezos was joined by female aviator<strong> Wally Funk</strong>, 82, who became the oldest astronaut. She was accompanied by 18-year-old Dutchman<strong> Oliver Daemen</strong> who became the youngest to explore outer space in the short journey on Tuesday.</p> <p>Bezos' younger brother <strong>Mark</strong> also accompanied the three passengers, however, the much-hyped anonymous winner of the auction seat did not show up due to "scheduling conflicts".</p> <p>The rocket named <strong>New Shepard </strong>has taken at least 15 uncrewed flights in various safety tests. It lifted off smoothly and touched down safely as the crew emerged from the capsule as heroes.</p>Key Updates
20 Jul 2021, 7:40 PM (IST)
Blue Origin's New Shephard rocket landed successfully back on Earth on Tuesday after a super-fast journey into space carrying Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark, aviator Wally Funk and 18-year-old Dutchman Oliver Daemen.
The event marked a new high for Jeff Bezos who started his space company Blue Origin in 2000 even as Amazon disrupted the retail industry.
The event was widely followed as people followed Blue Origin's journey online as the flight blasted off to the edge of space and back within minutes.
The space voyage lasted exactly 10 minutes and 20 seconds at speeds upwards of 3,540 km per hour.
20 Jul 2021, 7:34 PM (IST)
'It's dark up here': Amazon founder Jeff Bezos fulfills childhood dream in Blue Origin space flight
The successful flight carried the Amazon founder, his brother Mark, Wally Funk, 82, who became the oldest woman to enter space and 18-year-old Dutchman Oliver Daemen who became the youngest man to enter outer space.
20 Jul 2021, 5:07 PM (IST)
Maharashtra-born Sanjal Gavande part of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin team
Gavande is a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Mumbai. She shifted to the US in 2011 to pursue her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University.
20 Jul 2021, 5:05 PM (IST)
'Excited, curious, but not nervous': Jeff Bezos shows confidence before space flight
Blue Origin’s New Shephard will carry the four passengers to the outer space. The trip will last for a total of ten minutes, out of which for four minutes the passengers will experience the Karman Line.
20 Jul 2021, 5:01 PM (IST)
Jeff Bezos Blue Origin flight
Jeff Bezos is flying to space: When and where to watch Blue Origin flight
Bezos, who launched Blue Origin in 2000 to use some of his Amazon money to research rocket technology for a variety of business goals, will embark on his extraterrestrial mission just nine days after fellow billionaire and rocket firm founder Richard Branson.
20 Jul 2021, 4:22 PM (IST)
Journey of Jeff Bezos
Journey of Jeff Bezos: How Amazon's 'garage inventor' became interested in space
The founder of Amazon.com Inc and business mogul Jeff Bezos is expected to launch into space aboard his company Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on Tuesday.