Blue Origin has successfully resumed its human space missions

Blue Origin has successfully resumed its human space missions with the NS-25 mission, a significant achievement after a nearly two-year hiatus.

The NS-25 mission, which took place on May 19, 2024, was the 25th flight of the New Shepard program and the seventh human spaceflight for Blue Origin.

The mission involved six people, including Ed Dwight, who became the oldest person to go into space at age 90.

Dwight's inclusion was especially notable as he was the first black astronaut candidate selected by the Kennedy administration in 1961, but was not selected by NASA in subsequent astronaut classes.

The NS-25 mission experienced a minor problem with one of the three parachutes on the crew capsule not fully inflating during descent. However, the capsule was designed to land safely with two parachutes, and all six crew members were declared in good condition after landing.

The total mission duration was 9 minutes and 53 seconds, reaching a peak altitude of approximately 106 kilometers.

The flight was the first manned flight since the NS-22 mission in August 2022.

The hiatus was caused by an engine problem during the uncrewed NS-23 mission in September 2022, which resulted in the launch vehicle's engine and nozzle being redesigned.

Blue Origin resumed flights with the uncrewed NS-24 mission in December 2023, paving the way for the successful NS-25 mission.

The NS-25 mission crew included:

- Ed Dwight, former US Air Force pilot and first black astronaut candidate.
- Mason Angel, founder of Industrial Ventures.
- Sylvain Chiron, founder of Brasserie Mont Blanc.
- Ken Hess, programmer and founder of Science Buddies.
- Carol Schaller, retired accountant and travel adventurer.
- Gopi Torakura, pilot and owner of the wellness center.

This mission highlights Blue Origin's commitment to advancing space tourism and its ability to overcome technical challenges to ensure the safety and success of its missions.