The secret company from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos shared a video this morning to announce you have a chance to buy a ticket on their first crewed New Shepard flight.
Expand Expanding CloseBlue Origin says ‘It’s Time’ for first flight ticket sales
Author
Managing Editor at Space Explored
Seth Kurkowski covers launches and general space news for Space Explored. He has been following launches from Florida since 2018.
Seth’s first launch was SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Demo in February of 2018 and has been hooked on them ever since.
He also helped start Space Coast Launch Ambassadors, an outreach group advocating for space exploration while helping the general public enjoy rocket launches from the Space Coast.
Seth co-hosts the Space Explored weekly podcast as well as the Rapid Unscheduled Discussions podcast both of which you can listen to here on SpaceExplored.com
Email tips, pitches, typos, and feedback to kurk@spaceexplored.com.
Follow: Twitter @SethKurk + Instagram @sethkurk.
Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins passes away after battle with cancer
Today the family of astronaut Michael Collins announced the passing of the American hero.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA’s Pegasus barge arrives at Kennedy Space Center with Artemis I Core Stage on board
After months of testing and years of delays in the development and construction processes. The parts of the first SLS rocket have finally all arrived at Kennedy Space Center for final assembly and checkouts.
Expand Expanding Close[Dynetics joins in protest] Blue Origin to challenge the selection of SpaceX’s Starship for human lander contract
Back on April 16th, NASA announced that SpaceX would win the bid for Artemis’ Human Landing System contract. After a year-long competition, Blue Origin disagrees with the selection and hopes to get it changed.
Expand Expanding Close[Update: Launched] SpaceX to launch their 25th batch of Starlink satellites into orbit
After the successful flight last week for the Crew-2 mission, SpaceX is planning to launch their next batch of Starlink satellites to expand their worldwide internet constellation.
Date: Wednesday, April 28th, 11:44 PM EDT
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX Boca Chica teams getting ready for the first flight of Starship SN15
After what seems to be a successful static fire Monday afternoon of the three Raptor engines. SpaceX is getting ready for another Starship flight of the upgraded SN15.
Expand Expanding Close[Update: Launched] ULA’s first mission and debut of California launches for 2021
ULA’s next mission and first of 2021, NROL-82 is a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office and is launching on top of the large Delta IV Heavy rocket. This will end up being the first launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, the prime spaceport for polar launches.
Date: Monday, April 26, 4:47 PM EDT
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Explored Podcast 22: Blue Angels, Ingenuity’s first flight, Crew 2 from a boat, and more
This week join Space Explored’s Seth Kurkowski and Daryl Sausse to discuss seeing the Blue Angels perform at Sun ‘n Fun, Ingenuity flying its first and second flights, and the second operational crewed flight for SpaceX.
Subscribe
SpaceX Crew 2 astronauts arrive at a packed ISS
After a day of traveling in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, the Crew 2 astronauts docked with the International Space Station to begin their 6 months stay on the orbiting laboratory. This marked the first time two Crew Dragons were at the station at one time.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA Ingenuity helicopter takes its second bigger and better flight on Mars
After the success of its first flight at the beginning of this week, Ingenuity took its second flight early this morning. This flight pushed the tech demo to do more challenging tasks as they step through their testing campaign this month.
Expand Expanding Close[Update: Launched] SpaceX to send second operational crewed mission to the space station
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule has been a huge success with the launch of DM-2 and Crew 1 for NASA last year. This year they have two more missions to launch crew rotations to the International Space Station under the Commercial Crew Program with the next coming up this week.
Date: Friday, April 23nd, 5:49 AM EDT
Expand Expanding CloseHow to build your very own LEGO Ingenuity mini-figure
Early Monday morning NASA’s Ingenuity took its first flight into the Martian atmosphere. This marks the first powered flight on another planet 118 years after the Wright brothers took their first flight here on Earth. You can celebrate the occasion by building your own Ingenuity out of LEGOs!
Expand Expanding CloseAmazon to launch its first batch of Project Kuiper satellites on ULA rockets
Amazon’s answer to SpaceX’s satellite-based Starlink internet service is called Project Kuiper, and now the company has secured flights on ULA’s Atlas V rocket. These launches will be the first of many to build out the constellation of 3,236 satellites.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Explored Podcast 21: Starship to the Moon, New Shepard launches again, and Sun ‘N Fun
This week join Space Explored’s Seth Kurkowski and Zac Hall to discuss the announcement of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle winning NASA’s Human Landing System contract, Blue Origin’s 15th New Shepard launch, Sun ‘n Fun coverage, and more.
Subscribe
Sun ‘n Fun Day 1: The beginning of Air Show Season has begun
After having to cancel 2020’s events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sun ‘n Fun is back on and better than ever. A week-long air show and aviation convention, the benefits of which will empower future generations to take to the skies.
Expand Expanding CloseBlue Origin preparing ‘astronaut rehearsal’ launch this Wednesday
Blue Origin announced this weekend that they will attempt to launch their 15th New Shepard flight later this week. This marks the second flight for New Shephard this year following the January flight of Blue’s 4th vehicle, the first built for future crewed flights.
Expand Expanding Close[Update: Ms. Chief leaves port] Port Canaveral bids farewell to SpaceX fairing catcher GO Ms. Tree
With the inclusion of Shelia Bordelon as SpaceX’s newest fairing recovery ship and confirmation from Elon Musk that fairings will no longer be caught with a net. The time has come to bid farewell to one of the long-time loves of the SpaceX fleet.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Explored Podcast 20: SpaceX Starship and fleet updates, Core Stage 1 to Florida, packed ISS, and more
This week join Space Explored’s Seth Kurkowski, Zac Hall, and Derek Wise as they discuss updates to SpaceX starship vehicle and recovery fleet, now having 10 crew members on the ISS, Core Stage 1’s ride to Florida has arrived, and more.
Subscribe
Soyuz MS-18 arrives at International Space Station, bringing the current crew count to 10
Before Commercial Crew the Soyuz was the only way to the ISS and normally only two were ever docked, making up a crew size of no more than 6. Now with SpaceX’s Crew 1 is on board, upon MS-18’s arrival, there are now 10 crew members for Expedition 64.
Expand Expanding CloseRocket Lab plans for a second recovery attempt of their Electron rocket
Late last year Rocket Lab attempted its first recovery of an Electron rocket. Under the power of parachutes, the “Return to Sender” booster splashed down off the coast of New Zealand. While this booster didn’t return in a perfect reusable state, their next booster might fair better.
Expand Expanding Close[Update: Livestream scheduled] The upcoming Russian led rotation of crew prepares to head to the ISS
Expedition 64 continues and the beginning of Expedition 65 begins as teams prepare to launch the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft carrying 2 Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut to the ISS in the beginning of April.
Date: Friday, April 9th, 3:42 AM EDT
Expand Expanding Close[Update: Payload Deployment Confirmed] SpaceX’s 10th mission of 2021 to be another 60 Starlink satellites
SpaceX is planning to launch their 10th Falcon 9 rocket of 2021 with another 60 satellites for their worldwide internet constellation, Starlink. Seven out of SpaceX’s 10 launches this year have been missions solely dedicated to building out their constellation and expand Starlink’s coverage.
Date: Wednesday, April 7th, 12:34 PM EDT / 4:34 PM UTC
Expand Expanding Close
NASA planning to fire up an SLS rocket engine today at Stennis Space Center
Today Aerojet Rocketdyne’s plans to fire up an RS-25 engine at Stennis Space Center’s A1 test stand for another static fire test.
Expand Expanding CloseDebris from SpaceX Falcon 9 that reentered over US Northwest finds it way to the surface
Last week part of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket deorbited over the US states of Oregon and Washington. While most of the second stage of the rocket burned up as it flew through the atmosphere at orbital velocities. An internal tank made it to the ground.
Expand Expanding Close