NS-28 Expected to Launch in West Texas on November 22

Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has confirmed a launch date for its 9th crewed space flight, NS-28. The New Shepard rocket will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas on November 22.

The mission’s launch window will open at 9:30 am CST, with a live webcast starting 30 minutes before liftoff on the Blue Origin website.

Every seat on the six-passenger capsule has been filled for this flight. The crew includes Emmy-nominated TV host Emily Calandrelli, SpaceKids Global founder Sharon Hagle, Tricor International CEO Marc Hagle, risk management professional Austin Litteral, InfoHOA founder James Russell, and Bayshore Capital CEO Henry Wolfond. This will be the second New Shepard space flight for both of the Hagles.

Blue Origin also recently unveiled the mission patch for this flight, which was designed to represent each member of the crew.

NS-28 will be New Shepard’s ninth crewed flight and the program’s 28th to date. 43 passengers have already been taken up to the boundary of space, known as the Kármán line.

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The New Shepard rocket is the manufacturer’s first fully reusable, suborbital system intended for commercial spaceflight. For an unspecified, but presumably high cost, customers can purchase a ticket for the autonomously flown 11-minute journey. The first ticket on New Shepard sold for $28 million at auction.

In late October, Blue Origin debuted its second human-rated New Shepard rocket to fly the program’s 27th mission. The addition of this spacecraft allows Blue Origin to more effectively meet the rising demand for commercial spaceflight.

“We look forward to welcoming crew onboard RSS Kármán Line soon and offering the New Shepard flight experience to people across the world from all backgrounds,” stated Phil Joyce, SVP of New Shepard. “On every New Shepard mission, we’ve witnessed people return to Earth changed by this experience, and with a renewed sense of commitment to preserve our planet.”

FMI: www.blueorigin.com