Blue Origin Successfully Launches Eighth Tourist Mission

Blue Origin successfully launched its eighth crewed New Shepard mission, NS-26, from West Texas, carrying six passengers beyond the Kármán line on a 10-minute suborbital flight. The crew included Rob Ferl, a NASA-funded researcher conducting plant experiments, and Karsen Kitchen, the youngest woman ever to cross the Kármán line. The reusable booster and capsule both landed safely, showcasing Blue Origin's efficiency and reusability. This mission marked Blue Origin's first human spaceflight in nearly two years, following a suspension due to a previous uncrewed mission failure. The flight demonstrates Blue Origin's continued advancements in space tourism and contributes to Jeff Bezos' vision of making space travel more accessible. Additionally, Blue Origin is preparing for the ESCAPADE mission with NASA, set to launch on the New Glenn rocket in October.