Blue Origin New Shepard’s 11th human flight, NS-31, has lifted off from Launch Site One in West Texas today [Monday, April 14].
The short autonomous mission, powered, like most rocket launches, by liquid oxygen and hydrogen, passed the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space 62 miles (100 km) above Earth.
On board was an all-female crew comprising Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez. The short mission allowed them to experience zero gravity before their capsule returned safely to earth.
The BE-3U model is a liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engine capable of generating 173,000 lbf (770 kN) thrust in vacuum, with throttle ability to 120,000 lbf (530 kN).
The suborbital rocket is designed for space tourism and suborbital research.
Another engine in the Blue Origin portfolio, BE-4, runs on the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever constructed. BE-4 is capable of producing 550,000 lbf (2,450 kN) thrust with deep throttle capability.
Unlike kerosene, LNG can be used to self-pressurise its tank. Known as autogenous repressurisation, this eliminates the need for costly and complex systems that draw on Earth’s scarce helium reserves.
Blue Origin was created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2000. It is among two players developing the suborbital space market, with the other being Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic.
