Blue Origin is set to make history again today (May 31) as six civilians prepare for an unforgettable journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere aboard the New Shepard suborbital rocket.
This marks the 12th human flight for the company and the 32nd overall mission of the New Shepard program, founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Liftoff is scheduled from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas during a launch window opening at 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT). The mission, known as NS-32, will be streamed live on Blue Origin’s official website, YouTube channel, and X (formerly Twitter), beginning about 30 minutes before launch.
The livestream will also be featured on Space.com’s homepage, providing expert commentary and insights into the crew and the mission’s objectives.
Who’s Going to Space Today?
The NS-32 mission features a diverse, adventurous crew of six civilians:
Aymette Medina Jorge, a passionate STEM advocate from the U.S.
Dr. Gretchen Green, a radiologist and lifelong space enthusiast.
Jaime Alemán, former Panamanian ambassador to the U.S., who has visited all 193 U.N.-recognized countries.
Jesse Williams, a businessman and mountaineer who’s climbed six of the world’s seven tallest peaks, including Mt. Everest.
Mark Rocket, an aerospace entrepreneur making history as the first New Zealander in space.
Paul Jeris, an entrepreneur and space dreamer, inspired by his NASA engineer father.
Their mission will take them past the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space located 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. The entire flight lasts about 11 minutes, during which the capsule separates from the rocket, allowing the passengers to float freely in microgravity and observe Earth from large panoramic windows.
A Moment Beyond Earth
What makes this journey so special isn’t just the altitude—it’s the perspective. Known as the “overview effect,” many astronauts describe this experience as a life-changing moment where the fragility and beauty of Earth become profoundly clear. For the NS-32 crew, this view of our planet from space offers both inspiration and reflection.
A Milestone for Civilian Spaceflight
This launch is another major step in Blue Origin’s goal of making space accessible to everyday people. Since its first crewed mission in 2021—famously including Jeff Bezos—Blue Origin has now flown 64 civilians to the edge of space. The company continues to push the boundaries of space tourism, with short but powerful flights that don’t require extensive astronaut training.
As interest in space travel continues to grow, Blue Origin’s New Shepard missions are bringing the dream of space exploration closer to reality for many around the globe.
How to Watch the Blue Origin Launch Live:
- Time: 9:30 a.m. EDT / 6:30 a.m. PDT
- Stream: BlueOrigin.com, YouTube, X (Twitter), and Space.com
Don’t miss your chance to witness six civilians soar beyond the edge of space in a journey that showcases the future of space travel.