Blue Origin has launched six new civilian astronauts into space
On May 31st, six civilian astronauts undertook a suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft. The crew of the NS-32 mission, who named themselves "The Explorers" experienced approximately three minutes of weightlessness, reaching an altitude of 104 kilometers – the internationally recognized boundary of space (the Kármán line).
The launch took place from the Launch Site One spaceport in Texas. Following the separation of the reusable booster, the capsule ascended to 104 kilometers, enabling the participants to receive Blue Origin astronaut wings. Among the crew members were Mark Rocket, the first New Zealander in space, and Jaime Aleman, a Panamanian lawyer who became the first individual to have visited all 193 UN member states, both poles, and space. He described the flight as the "cherry on top" of his travels.
The team also included Canadian Jesse Williams, who has summited Mount Everest, and American Paul Jarecki, who has traveled to 149 countries. Gretchen Green, a radiologist and education program activist, and Amy Medina Jorge, a teacher, also shared their impressions. Green remarked, "It was a moment of perfection. The Earth seemed ideal".
The flight lasted 10 minutes, with the capsule landing via parachute. This marks Blue Origin's 30th successful New Shepard launch since 2015 and its 12th crewed mission since 2021. In total, the company has now transported 64 individuals to space.
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