New Shepard#Crew capsule

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The first development vehicle of the New Shepard development program was a sub-scale demonstration vehicle named Goddard that was built in 2006 following earlier engine development efforts by Blue Origin. Goddard was assembled at the Blue Origin facility in Kent, Washington, United States and made its first flight on November 13, 2006.{{cite news |date=January 2, 2007 |title=Blue Origin Flight Test Update |url=http://www.spacefellowship.com/News/?p=1755 |publisher=SpaceFellowship |quote=Our first objective is developing New Shepard, a vertical take-off, vertical-landing vehicle designed to take a small number of astronauts on a sub-orbital journey into space. On the morning of 13 November 2006, we launched and landed Goddard – a first development vehicle in the New Shepard program.}} A second test flight was scheduled for December 2, but never took place.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, two further flights were performed by Goddard. Blue Engine 1, or BE-1, was the first rocket engine developed by Blue Origin and was used in the company's Goddard development vehicle. On the path to developing the New Shepard launch vehicle, a crew capsule was also needed, and design was begun on a space capsule in the early 2000s. One development milestone along the way became public. On October 19, 2012, Blue Origin conducted a successful pad escape of a full-scale suborbital crew capsule at its West Texas launch site. For the test, the capsule fired its pusher escape motor and launched from a launch vehicle simulator. The Crew Capsule traveled to an altitude of {{cvt|2307|ft|m|order=flip}} under active thrust vector control before descending safely by parachute to a soft landing {{cvt|1630|ft|m|order=flip}} downrange.{{cite news|last=Lindsay|first=Clark|title=Blue Origin carries out crew capsule pad escape test|url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/blue-origin-carries-out-crew-capsule-pad-escape-test-.html|access-date=October 23, 2012|newspaper=NewSpace Watch|date=October 22, 2012|archive-date=May 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525040809/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/blue-origin-carries-out-crew-capsule-pad-escape-test-.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/31790blue-origin-wraps-up-commercial-crew-work-with-escape-system-test/ |title=Blue Origin Wraps Up Commercial Crew Work with Escape System Test|first1=Dan |last1=Leone |date=October 29, 2012 |publisher=Space News|access-date=January 13, 2023}}

In April 2015, Blue Origin announced that they had completed acceptance testing of the BE-3PM engine that would power the New Shepard launch vehicle. The company also announced that they intended to begin flight testing of the New Shepard later in 2015, with initial flights occurring as frequently as monthly, with "a series of dozens of flights over the extent of the sub-orbital test program [taking] a couple of years to complete".{{cite news|title=Blue Origin's suborbital plans are finally ready for flight |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2729/1 |last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|access-date=April 18, 2015|date=April 13, 2015|quote=We've recently completed acceptance testing, meaning we've accepted the engine for suborbital flight on our New Shepard vehicle, [the end of a] very, very long development program [of] 450 test firings of the engine and a cumulative run time of more than 500 minutes. The completion of those tests sets the stage for Blue Origin to begin test flights of the vehicle later this year at its facility in West Texas [where they] expect a series of flight tests with this vehicle ... flying in autonomous mode... We expect a series of dozens of flights over the extent of the test program [taking] a couple of years to complete.}} The same month, the FAA announced that the regulatory paperwork for the test program had already been filed and approved, and test flights were expected to begin before mid-May 2015.{{cite news|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=Blue Origin To Begin Test Flights Within Weeks|url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-to-begin-test-flights-within-weeks/|access-date=April 22, 2015|publisher=Space news|date=April 21, 2015}} By February 2016, three New Shepard vehicles had been built. The first was lost in a test in April 2015, the second had flown twice (see below), and the third was completing manufacture at the Blue Origin factory in Kent, Washington, United States. In 2016, the Blue Origin team were awarded the Collier Trophy for demonstrating rocket reusability with the New Shepard human spaceflight vehicle.{{cite news|last1=Berry|first1=Stephanie|title=Blue Origin New Shepard to Receive the 2016 Robert J. Collier Trophy |url=https://naa.aero/userfiles/files/documents/Press%20Releases/Collier%20Trophy%202016.pdf |access-date=March 29, 2017|publisher=NAA |date=March 29, 2017}}

On July 20, 2021, the company successfully completed its first crewed mission, Blue Origin NS-16, into space using its New Shepard launch vehicle, carrying passengers Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen. The flight was approximately 10 minutes and crossed the Kármán line. New Shepard performed six crewed flights between July 2021 and August 2022, taking a mix of sponsored celebrities such as Wally Funk, William Shatner as well as paying customers. New Shepard ticket sales brought in $50 million through June 2022. The second and third crewed missions of New Shepard took place in October and December 2021. The fourth crewed flight happened in March 2022. On June 4, 2022, New Shepard completed its fifth crewed mission launch and the sixth crewed flight took place on August 4, 2022. In September 2022, an uncrewed mission of the New Shepard had an anomaly due to a failure of the BE-3PM main engine. The launch escape system triggered and the capsule landed safely. The remaining New Shepard launch vehicles were grounded pending an FAA investigation into the incident. After a six-month investigation, Blue Origin pinpointed the cause of the anomaly as a thermal-structure failure of the BE-3PM engine nozzle caused a thrust misalignment that triggered the capsule's emergency escape system to activate. Blue Origin said in its press release that New Shepard flights would resume as soon as possible.

As of June 2022, the company had generated more than $100M from the New Shepard space tourism program.{{cite web | url=https://observer.com/2022/06/blue-origin-space-tourism-pricing-marketing/ | title=What You Pay for Blue Origin's Spaceflight Depends on Who You Are | website=The New York Observer | date=June 23, 2022 }}

The return to flight mission happened on December 19, 2023.

On February 4, 2025, an uncrewed New Shepard rocket was launched. The NS-29 mission was intended to launch about 30 moon-related technologies.{{Cite web |last=updated |first=Tariq Malik last |date=January 27, 2025 |title=What time is Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket 'moon gravity' launch today? Here's how to watch live |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/blue-origin-new-shepard-moon-gravity-rocket-launch-time-livestream |access-date=January 28, 2025 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin completed a successful sub-orbital crewed mission of 6 women aboard its Blue Origin NS-31 as part of the New Shepard Program. Passengers included Gayle King, Katy Perry, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, Lauren Sanchez, and Kerianne Flynn. The flight reached a peak altitude of 106 km and lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds.{{Cite web |last=updated |title=New Shepard Mission NS-31. |url=http://www.blueorigin.com/missions/ns-31| access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=blueorigin.com |language=en}}

File:Blue Origin M7.jpg

{{as of|2024}}, there have been five propulsion modules built. They are NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4, and NS5.

{{anchor|NS1|New Shepard 1|New Shepard NS1|Tail 1|New Shepard Tail 1}}The first flight of the full-scale New Shepard vehicle was NS1,{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (meteorologist) |date=March 9, 2016 |title=Behind the curtain: Ars goes inside Blue Origin's secretive rocket factory |publisher=Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/03/behind-the-curtain-ars-goes-inside-bl01ue-origins-secretive-rocket-factory/ |access-date=March 9, 2016}} also called "Tail 1"{{cite news |author=Richard Tribou |date=September 12, 2022 |title=FAA grounds Blue Origin New Shepard after emergency abort during launch |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-blue-origin-new-shepard-ns-23-launch-20220912-yybpgry23vgntid6y3di4n5f2e-story.html}} and was conducted on April 29, 2015, during which an altitude of {{cvt|93.5|km}} was attained. While the test flight itself was deemed a success, and the capsule was successfully recovered via parachute landing, the rocket crash landed and was not recovered due to a failure of hydraulic pressure in the vehicle control system during descent.{{cite news |last1=Bezos |first1=Jeff |date=April 27, 2015 |title=First Developmental Test Flight of New Shepard |publisher=Blue Origin |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/press_release/blue-origin-completes-acceptance-testing-of-be-3-engine-for-new-shepard-sub/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430154042/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/press_release/blue-origin-completes-acceptance-testing-of-be-3-engine-for-new-shepard-sub |archive-date=April 30, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Blue Origin's New Shepard Vehicle Makes First Test Flight |publisher=Space News |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origins-new-shepard-vehicle-makes-first-test-flight/ |access-date=May 1, 2015}} The capsule was called RSS Jules Verne.{{Cite tweet|number=990808204320878592|user=BlueOrigin|title=The previous crew capsule was named "RSS Jules Verne" and "RSS" stands for "Reusable Space Ship". Thanks for asking!|date=April 30, 2018}}

{{anchor|NS2|New Shepard 2|New Shepard NS2|Tail 2|New Shepard Tail 2}}The New Shepard 2 (NS2), also called "Tail 2", flight test article propulsion module made five successful flights in 2015 and 2016, being retired after its fifth flight in October 2016.

{{anchor|NS3|New Shepard 3|New Shepard NS3|Tail 3|New Shepard Tail 3}}New Shepard 3 (NS3), also called "Tail 3", along with capsule RSS H. G. Wells,{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/1304ed77d0bb4e5c995a8b75a8d52499|title=Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches spacecraft higher than ever|author=Marcia Dunn |date=July 19, 2018|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=July 19, 2018}} was modified for increased reusability and improved thermal protection; it included a redesigned propulsion module and the inclusion of new access panels for more rapid servicing and improved thermal protection. NS3 was the third propulsion module built. It was completed and shipped to the launch site by September 2017,

[http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-enlarges-new-glenns-payload-fairing-preparing-to-debut-upgraded-new-shepard/ Blue Origin enlarges New Glenn’s payload fairing, preparing to debut upgraded New Shepard], Caleb Henry, SpaceNews, accessed September 15, 2017. although parts of it had been built as early as March 2016. Flight tests began in 2017 and continued into 2019.{{cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=April 19, 2018 |title=Blue Origin expects BE-4 qualification tests to be done by year's end |publisher=SpaceNews |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-expects-be-4-qualification-tests-to-be-done-by-years-end/ |access-date=April 21, 2018}} The new Crew Capsule 2.0, featuring windows, was integrated to the NS3. NS3 was only ever be used to fly cargo; no passengers were carried (as was originally planned for NS3).[https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1074759932795281408 first time we've had two rockets in the barn in West Texas], Blue Origin, December 17, 2018, accessed December 26, 2018.

Its initial flight test occurred on December 12, 2017.

{{cite web |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2017/blue-origin-launches-updated-version-new-shepard-suborbital-spaceship-test-flight/ |title=Jeff Bezos says Blue Origin gives test dummy 'a great ride' on New Shepard suborbital spaceship |date=December 13, 2017 |work=GeekWire |access-date=December 23, 2017}} This was the first flight flown under the regulatory regime of a launch license granted by the FAA. Previous test flights had flown under an experimental permit, which did not allow Blue Origin to carry cargo for which it was paid for commercially. This made the flight of NS3 the first revenue flight for payloads, and it carried 12 experiments on the flight, as well as a test dummy given the moniker "Mannequin Skywalker".{{cite news |last=Foust|first=Jeff |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-a-year-away-from-crewed-new-shepard-flights/ |title=Blue Origin a year away from crewed New Shepard flights |work=SpaceNews |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2018 }}

Since the maiden flight, "Blue Origin has been making updates to the vehicle ... intended primarily to improve operability rather than performance or reliability. Those upgrades took longer than expected" leading to a several-month gap in test flights. The second test flight took place on April 29, 2018.{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Video: Blue Origin flies New Shepard rocket for eighth time|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/04/29/video-blue-origin-flies-new-shepard-rocket-for-eighth-time/|date=April 29, 2018|website=Spaceflight Now}} The 10th overall New Shepard flight, and the fourth NS3 flight, had originally been planned for December 2018, but was delayed due to "ground infrastructure issues". Following a diagnostics of the initial issue, Blue Origin rescheduled the launch for early 2019, after discovering "additional systems" that needed repairs as well.{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/42807-blue-origin-new-shepard-launch-delayed-to-2019.html |title=Blue Origin Delays Next New Shepard Launch to Early 2019 |last=Bartels|first=Meghan |date=December 20, 2019 |work=Space.com |access-date=January 26, 2019 }} The flight launched on January 23, 2019, and successfully flew to space with a maximum altitude of {{cvt|106.9|km|mi}}.[https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/01/new-shepard-makes-10th-launch-as-blue-origin-aims-to-fly-humans-late-in-2019/ New Shepard makes 10th launch as Blue Origin aims to fly humans late in 2019]. Eric Berger, Ars Technica. January 23, 2019, accessed January 26, 2019. It has been used to test SPLICE ("Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution"), a NASA lunar landing technology demonstration, on two separate flights in October 2020 (NS-13) and August 2021 (NS-17).{{Cite web |last=Newton |first=Laura |date=August 24, 2021 |title=NASA Technologies Slated for Testing on Blue Origin's New Shepard |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/nasa-tech-testing-on-blue-origin-shepard.html |access-date=August 26, 2021 |website=NASA }}

New Shepard 3 rocket was destroyed during the NS-23 mission once it impacted the ground on September 12, 2022, after a rocket engine anomaly led to the activation of the in-flight abort system. The capsule made a successful landing under parachutes.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/09/new-shepard-ns-23/ |title=New Shepard suffers in-flight abort on uncrewed NS-23 mission |date=September 12, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com}} This was the ninth flight of NS3, and the flight was not carrying any people on board.{{Cite tweet |user=blueorigin |url=https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1569389844316721152 |title=During today's flight, the capsule escape system successfully separated|access-date=November 1, 2022|number=1569389844316721152|website=Twitter |language=en}}

{{anchor|NS4|New Shepard 4|New Shepard NS4|Tail 4|New Shepard Tail 4}}New Shepard 4 (NS4), also called "Tail 4", which flies with capsule RSS First Step, was the fourth propulsion module to be built and the first to carry human passengers. Bezos himself was a passenger.{{Cite web|author=Jackie Wattles|title=Jeff Bezos is going to space|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/07/tech/jeff-bezos-space-blue-origin-new-shepard-flight-scn/index.html|access-date=June 7, 2021|website=CNN|date=June 7, 2021 }} The vehicle was manufactured in 2018 and moved to the Blue Origin West Texas launch facility in December 2019.{{cite news |last1=Wall |first1=Mike |title=Blue Origin Probably Won't Launch People to Space This Year |url=https://www.space.com/blue-origin-fly-people-2020.html |access-date=January 18, 2021 |agency=space.com |date=October 4, 2019}} The uncrewed maiden launch of NS4 occurred on January 14, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Burghardt |first1=Thomas |title=Blue Origin tests New Shepard capsule upgrades on NS-14 mission |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/blue-origin-test-upgrades-ns-14/ |access-date=January 18, 2021 |agency=NASAspaceflight.com |date=January 14, 2021}} NS4 was successfully launched on July 20, 2021, with four passengers; Jeff Bezos was aboard this maiden crewed flight. On October 13, 2021, NS4 successfully launched and landed, carrying four passengers, including notable passenger William Shatner.{{cite news |title=William Shatner Completes Trip to Space Aboard Blue Origin Rocket |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/10/13/science/blue-origin-william-shatner |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 13, 2021}} On December 11, 2021, Blue Origin NS-19 successfully launched into space. This was the first time New Shepard carried six passengers, the full design passenger complement. In October 2024, National Air and Space Museum announced that Blue Origin had donated NS4 to be displayed in the museum.{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-new-shepard-rocket-booster-and-crew-capsule-will-go-on-display-at-the-air-and-space-museum-180985265/ | title=Historic New Shepard Rocket Booster and Crew Capsule Will Go on Display at the Air and Space Museum }}

{{anchor|NS5|New Shepard 5|New Shepard NS5|Tail 5|New Shepard Tail 5}}New Shepard 5 (NS5), which flies with capsule RSS Kármán Line, is Blue Origin's second crew-rated propulsion module. Manufactured to meet growing demand for New Shepard flights, it debuted on the NS-27 uncrewed flight, which flew on October 23, 2024, following aborted launch attempts on October 7, 2024, and October 13, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Stimac |first1=Valerie |title=Blue Origin Completes 27th Mission With New Human-Rated Vehicle |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/valeriestimac/2024/10/23/blue-origin-completes-27th-mission-with-new-human-rated-vehicle/ |website=Forbes |access-date=October 23, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=John |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Launch Roundup: Starship to fly? Europa Clipper - Hurricane delays, Falcon 9s on hold |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/10/launch-roundup-100824/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}

{{as of|2024}}, four New Shepard capsules have been constructed. They are {{ship|RSS|Jules Verne}}, {{ship|RSS|H. G. Wells}}, {{ship|RSS|First Step}}, and {{ship|RSS|Kármán Line}}.

File:New Shepard mock up at Oshkosh Airventure 2017.jpg in 2017]]

New Shepard is a fully reusable, vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) space vehicle composed of two principal parts: a pressurized crew capsule and a launch rocket that Blue Origin often calls a booster or propulsion module. The New Shepard is controlled entirely by on-board computers, without ground control or a human pilot.{{cite news |last=Boyle|first=Alan |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/jeff-bezos-lifts-curtain-blue-origin-rocket-factory-vision-space/ |title=Jeff Bezos lifts curtain on Blue Origin rocket factory, lays out grand plan for space travel that spans hundreds of years |work=GeekWire |date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2016 }}

The launch rocket is powered by one BE-3PM engine with thrust vector control, fueled by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.{{Cite web |title=BE-3: Making History |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/engines/be-3 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Blue Origin}} Aft fins stabilize the rocket during ascent, steer it back to the landing pad during descent, and guide it effectively at speeds up to Mach 3. Ring and wedge fins near the top of the rocket provide aerodynamic stability and reduce fuel consumption during descent. Drag brakes are also deployed during descent to increase drag and reduce speed.{{Cite web |title=New Shepard |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/new-shepard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519170537/https://www.blueorigin.com/new-shepard |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Blue Origin}} The gimbaling engine nozzle and aft fins work together to steer the rocket, both using hydraulic actuators.{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2016 |title=New Shepard Space Vehicle Makes Fifth Flight |url=https://jasc-controls.com/new-shepard-space-vehicle-makes-fifth-flight/ |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=JASC}}

The New Shepard crew capsule is a pressurized crew capsule designed to carry up to six people. It supports a "full-envelope" launch escape system that can separate the capsule from the launch rocket at any point during ascent.{{cite video |title=The New Shepard Crew Capsule|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9GoLD49sQ0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725182207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9GoLD49sQ0|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2018|author= Blue Origin |access-date= July 25, 2018|website=YouTube}} The Crew Capsule Escape Solid Rocket Motor (CCE-SRM) is sourced from Aerojet Rocketdyne.{{cite news |url= http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=49635 |title= Aerojet Rocketdyne Motor Plays Key Role in Successful Blue Origin In-Flight Crew Escape Test |date= October 6, 2016 |publisher= SpaceRef.com |access-date= October 8, 2016 |archive-date= March 27, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230327180910/https://spaceref.com/press-release/aerojet-rocketdyne-motor-plays-key-role-in-successful-blue-origin-in-flight-crew-escape-test/ |url-status= dead }} The interior volume of the capsule is {{convert|530|ft3|m3|sp=us|order=flip}},{{cite web |title=Our Approach to Technology |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/technology |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110171630/https://www.blueorigin.com/technology |archive-date=January 10, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |website=Blue Origin |quote=The system consists of a pressurized capsule atop a booster. The combined vehicles launch vertically, accelerating for approximately two and a half minutes, before the engine cuts off. The capsule then separates from the booster to coast quietly into space. After a few minutes of free fall, the booster performs an autonomously controlled rocket-powered vertical landing, while the capsule lands softly under parachutes, both ready to be used again. Reusability allows us to fly the system again and again. ... The New Shepard capsule’s interior is ... 530 cubic feet{{snd}}offering over 10 times the room Alan Shepard had on his Mercury flight. It seats six astronauts. Three independent parachutes [on the capsule] provide redundancy, while a retro-thrust system further cushions [the] landing. ... Full-envelope escape [system] is built around a solid rocket motor that provides 70,000 lb. of thrust in a two-second burn.}} containing 6 windows, 6 reclined seats, and handholds for ease of movement in zero-g. At the center of the capsule is a cylinder housing the crew escape system.{{Cite web |last=Cofield |first=Calla |date=April 18, 2017 |title=Aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard: My Imaginary Journey to Space |url=https://www.space.com/36449-inside-blue-origin-new-shepard-space-capsule.html |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Space.com}} After separation from the launch rocket, three parachutes deploy for a soft landing. In the event of a parachute failure, the capsule can still land safely with one of three parachutes deployed. Before touchdown, a retro-thrust system at the bottom of the capsule expels nitrogen gas to slow the landing to approximately 3.2 km/h (2 mph).{{Cite web |title=Record of Safety |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/safety |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Blue Origin}} Additionally, a crushable ring, 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) high, compresses upon impact on the underside of the capsule and acts as a decelerator to absorb g-forces.{{Cite web |last=Cofield |first=Calla |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Blue Origin's Crew Capsule Aced Parachute-Failure Test, Jeff Bezos Says |url=https://www.space.com/33492-blue-origin-crew-capsule-parachute-failure-test.html |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Space.com}}

New Shepard is launched {{convert|48|km|mi nmi}} north of Van Horn, Texas, at Launch Site One (LS1), and conducts a powered flight for about 110 seconds, up to an altitude of {{convert|40|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}}.

The rocket and capsule then continue coasting upwards due to their momentum, reaching an apogee just above the Kármán Line at {{convert|100|km|mi nmi ft|abbr=on}}. Near this peak altitude, the crew capsule separates from the rocket. As the rocket nears the ground, its air brakes deploy and the engines restart as onboard computers autonomously bring the rocket for a vertical landing at the landing pad, where it deploys its four landing legs.{{cite web |url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20060829_Blue_Origin_EA_FONSI_signed.pdf |title=Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Finding of No Significant Impact |website=www.faa.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515030315/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20060829_Blue_Origin_EA_FONSI_signed.pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2009}}{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Completes Third Human Spaceflight |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-19-mission-updates |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US}} The crew capsule descends afterward under three parachutes and a solid rocket motor. The crew capsule can also separate in case of a vehicle malfunction or other emergency using solid propellant separation boosters, then perform a parachute landing.{{cite news|title=Blue Origin rocket malfunctions, triggers dramatic but safe abort for unpiloted New Shepard capsule|first1=William|last1=Harwood|date=September 12, 2022|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-origin-rocket-malfunctions-triggers-dramatic-but-safe-abort-for-unpiloted-new-shepard-capsule/|work=CBS News|access-date=January 13, 2023}} The total flight duration of the rocket is over 7 minutes, while the total flight time for the crew capsule is around 10 minutes.

{{as of|2011|03}}, Blue Origin had submitted the New Shepard reusable launch vehicle for use as an uncrewed rocket for NASA's suborbital reusable launch vehicle (sRLV) solicitation under NASA's Flight Opportunities Program. Blue Origin projects {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}} altitude in flights of approximately ten minutes duration, while carrying an {{convert|11.3|kg|abbr=on|adj=on}} research payload.{{cite web |title=sRLV platforms compared |url=https://c3.ndc.nasa.gov/flightopportunities/platforms/compare/ |publisher=NASA |access-date=March 10, 2011 |date=March 7, 2011 |quote=New Shepard: Type: VTVL/Unpiloted |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220015430/https://flightopportunities.nasa.gov/technologies/ |url-status=dead }} By March 2016, Blue Origin noted that they are "due to start flying unaccompanied scientific payloads later [in 2016]." On April 29, 2018, during its eighth flight New Shepard carried the Schmitt Space Communicator SC-1x, a three-pound device developed by Solstar that launched the first commercial Wi-Fi hotspot service in space and sent the first commercial Twitter message from space.{{Cite web |title=How Humans Will Bring the Internet to Space |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-humans-will-bring-the-internet-to-space/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=Vice.com |date=July 3, 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Apogee 351,000 Feet |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/apogee-351-000-feet |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US}} NASA provided a part of the $2 million project's funding as a part of its Flight Opportunities program.{{Cite web |last=Ditzler |first=Joseph |title=Space Wi-Fi startup aims to raise $1M via crowdfunding investment site |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/space-wi-fi-startup-aims-to-raise-1m-via-crowdfunding-investment-site/article_ad343c52-9bb8-5f89-8790-a27fdf39421e.html |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=Santa Fe New Mexican |date=July 2, 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2018 |title=New Mexico firm hopes to offer Wi-Fi for space travelers |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/new-mexico-firm-hopes-to-offer-wi-fi-for-space-travelers/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}

On 12 September 2022,18 NASA payloads were flying on NS-23 when an in-flight failure of the rocket's main engine caused an emergency ejection of the payload capsule. The payload capsule landed safely and was recovered whilst the rocket was lost.{{cite news |title=New Shepard suffers in-flight abort on uncrewed suborbital flight

|first=Jeff|last=Foust |date=September 12, 2022 |url=https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-suffers-in-flight-abort-on-uncrewed-suborbital-flight/ |work=SpaceNews |access-date=September 12, 2022}}

Blue Origin received US$3.7 million in Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) phase 1 to advance several development objectives of its innovative "pusher" Launch Abort System (LAS) and composite pressure vessel.{{cite news |author=Jeff Foust |title=Blue Origin proposes orbital vehicle |publisher=NewSpace Journal |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2010/02/18/blue-origin-proposes-orbital-vehicle/ |access-date=April 23, 2015}}

In February 2011, with the end of the second ground test nearly complete, the company completed all work envisioned under the phase 1 contract for the pusher escape system. They also "completed work on the other aspect of its award, risk reduction work on a composite pressure vessel" for the vehicle.{{cite news |date=February 4, 2011 |title=CCDev awardees one year later: where are they now? |newspaper=NewSpace Journal |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/02/04/ccdev-awardees-one-year-later-where-are-they-now/ |url-status=dead |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605111613/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/02/04/ccdev-awardees-one-year-later-where-are-they-now/ |archive-date=June 5, 2013}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://www.blueorigin.com/new-shepard/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080411045902/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/06/24/669.aspx Blue's Rocket Clues] (MSNBC's Cosmic Log, June 24, 2006)
• [http://www.space.com/2-top-10-fantasy-spaceships-headed-reality.html Future & Fantasy Spaceships Primed for Launch Commercial, Orbital Spacecraft] (see p. 8)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090617195547/http://spacefellowship.com/News/?cat=40 Latest Blue Origin news on the Space Fellowship]
• [http://www.space.com/11457-blue-origin-commercial-crew-development.html Secretive Spaceship Builder's Plans Hinted at in NASA Agreement Commercial Crew Development Blue Origin] (2 new craft images)

;Videos

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180908153705/https://www.blueorigin.com/gallery Images and videos at Blue Origin]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sij4ivRwHuQ New Shepard space vehicle first successful soft landing], November 23, 2015 (YouTube)

{{Blue Origin}}

{{Spaceflight}}

{{Space tourism}}

{{Reusable launch systems}}

{{Future spaceflights}}

{{Crewed spacecraft}}

Category:Blue Origin launch vehicles

Category:Space tourism

Category:Private spaceflight

Category:Reusable launch systems

Category:VTVL rockets

Category:Suborbital spaceflight

Category:Vehicles introduced in 2015

Category:Alan Shepard