Blue Origin Announces Passenger List for Upcoming NS-36 Space Tourism Mission

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, has announced the passenger list for its upcoming NS-36 space tourism mission aboard the New Shepard spacecraft. The journey will include six passengers, one of whom prefers to remain anonymous even after the flight. This mission is part of an ongoing series of space tourism flights aimed at making space accessible to the general public.

Announced Passengers

The announced passenger list includes five individuals from diverse backgrounds. The first is Jeff Elgin, founder of FranChoice, a network that helps individuals find franchise ownership opportunities. Next is Dana Karagachova, founder of Portals, a platform that combines art and science to enhance digital self-regulation tools. The list also includes Dr. Clint Kelly III, an electrical engineer who contributed to the development of self-driving cars in the 1980s.

Among the passengers is also Aaron Newman, an entrepreneur and explorer who served in the U.S. Army and has embarked on several adventures, including descending to the deepest point in the world’s oceans, the Mariana Trench. Finally, Vitaly Ostrovsky, a Ukrainian entrepreneur who has lived in over 100 countries worldwide, is also on board.

New Shepard and Its History

This flight marks the thirty-sixth space mission for the New Shepard vehicle, which consists of a reusable booster and a reusable capsule. Although most of its flights have been uncrewed and focused on research, this mission is part of a series of tourist flights through which Blue Origin aims to make space travel accessible to everyone.

New Shepard flights, whether crewed or uncrewed, last between 10 to 12 minutes, during which passengers have the opportunity to experience microgravity and view Earth from space.

The Space Tourism Experience

This journey offers passengers a unique opportunity to experience microgravity and view the Earth from space, an experience once limited to professional astronauts. Although Blue Origin has not disclosed ticket prices, these flights represent a significant step toward making space accessible to the public.

The flight allows passengers a few minutes of weightlessness, providing a unique experience and a sense of liberation from Earth’s gravitational pull, along with an unparalleled view of Earth from space.

Conclusion

The NS-36 mission exemplifies the ongoing progress in space tourism, with Blue Origin and other companies striving to make space more accessible to the general public. Through these flights, individuals from various backgrounds can experience the wonder of space and immerse themselves in an extraordinary experience completely different from life on Earth.