EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Space technology company Blue Origin successfully completed its 12th human spaceflight and the 32nd flight for the New Shepard program on Saturday morning, May 31.
The launch took place from the company’s facility outside of Van Horn and took a human crew to the Karman line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The crew included: K-12 STEM teacher Aymette Medina Jorge; radiologist turned explorer Dr. Gretchen Green; former Panamanian ambassador to the United States Jaime Alemán; businessman Jesse Williams; aerospace executive Mark Rocket; and entrepreneur Paul Jeris.
Including Saturday’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 64 people into space — including four who have flown twice — among them scientific researchers, educators, physicians, explorers, and entrepreneurs.
“We thank our customers for trusting us to give them the opportunity to appreciate Earth’s fragility from above, an experience that truly transforms those who embark on it,” said Phil Joyce, senior vice president of New Shepard. “We look forward to seeing what our remarkable crew will do with this experience. I am proud of our team’s dedication in making these moments possible.”
Here is what Blue Origin said about the New Shepard program:
“Named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, New Shepard is Blue Origin’s fully reusable, autonomous suborbital rocket system built to fly humans and scientific payloads to space. The rocket is powered by one BE-3PM engine, which is fueled by a highly efficient and clean combination of liquid hydrogen and oxygen. During flight, the only byproduct of New Shepard’s engine combustion is water vapor, with no carbon emissions.”
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