Meet New Shepard: Blue Origin's spacecraft set to take Indians to space
Nearly three years after it began tourism flights to space, Jeff Bezos-led Blue Origin has partnered with the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) to give common Indian citizens an opportunity to go into space.
The selected astronauts will ride aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on brief flight to space. They will experience weightless as the spacecraft launches over 100 kilometers above Earth's surface crossing the Karaman Line, the international boundary between Earth and space.
Blue Origin
What is New Shepard?
Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft is a suborbital space travel vehicle, offering a unique experience for both scientific research and space tourism.
Named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, New Shepard is a fully reusable rocket system designed for human spaceflight.
The spacecraft consists of two main components: a reusable booster and a pressurized crew capsule. The capsule can accommodate six passengers, providing each with a window seat to witness breathtaking views of Earth.
Among its notable features are the largest windows ever flown in space, offering an unparalleled visual experience for astronauts.
New Shepard spacecraft returning from a flight to space. (Photo: Blue Origin)
What does the journey to space look like?
New Shepard's 11-minute journey takes passengers beyond the Karman line. During the flight, passengers experience several minutes of weightlessness before making a controlled descent back to Earth aided by parachutes.
Safety is a top priority for Blue Origin. The New Shepard system underwent extensive testing, including 16 consecutive successful flight tests and three capsule escape tests, before being cleared for crewed missions. The spacecraft is fully autonomous, requiring no pilots on board.
In addition to its space tourism potential, New Shepard serves as a valuable platform for scientific research.
Blue Origin
The vehicle has carried numerous payloads for various organisations, including Nasa, schools, and universities. This dual-purpose capability makes New Shepard an essential asset for advancing space exploration and research.
Blue Origin has successfully completed multiple crewed flights since its first human mission in July 2021, which included company founder Jeff Bezos. The most recent crewed flight, NS-25, took place on May 19, 2024, marking the seventh human spaceflight for the company.