Pre‑flight orientation
Blue Origin’s New Shepard flights begin with a two‑day orientation in West Texas. Participants meet their fellow crew members, undergo safety briefings and practise emergency procedures. They learn how to board and exit the capsule, operate seatbelts and harnesses, and position their bodies to manage G‑forces during ascent and re‑entry. Each passenger receives a custom flight suit, boots and a mission patch. Medical staff conduct final health checks and ensure compliance with FAA regulations.
Launch and ascent
On launch day, passengers board the capsule atop the New Shepard booster. The rocket lifts off vertically and accelerates through the sound barrier within seconds. At roughly three minutes after launch, the rocket engines cut off and the capsule separates. Passengers feel weightless and unbuckle to float in the cabin. Large windows provide panoramic views of Earth and the blackness of space. Blue Origin’s flights cross the Kármán line – the internationally recognised boundary of space at 100 km – giving participants bragging rights as “astronauts”.
Descent and landing
After about three minutes of microgravity, the capsule begins its descent. The crew straps back into their seats as atmospheric drag increases. Parachutes deploy and the capsule touches down gently in the Texas desert. The booster, meanwhile, performs a controlled propulsive landing nearby. Post‑flight, Jeff Bezos often greets passengers and presents them with official astronaut wings. Passengers celebrate with family and friends and may participate in press conferences and interviews.
Reflections from the “Perfect 10” mission
Blue Origin’s tenth crewed flight, NS‑30, launched on 25 February 2025. The mission carried six paying passengers dubbed the “Perfect 10.” After a short delay, New Shepard lifted off from West Texas at 10:50 a.m. EST and climbed past the Kármán line. The booster landed safely in the desert seven minutes later, followed by the crew capsule three minutes after that. All three parachutes deployed properly, unlike a previous uncrewed test that had a parachute malfunction. This flight was Blue Origin’s 10th human spaceflight and 30th mission overall; it marked the company’s return to flight after a hiatus. By early 2025 Blue Origin had flown 47 people above the Kármán line.