Blue Origin Set for 10th Space Tourism Launch on Feb. 25—Meet the Crew!

Blue Origin is set to launch its 10th space tourism mission, NS-30, on February 25 from West Texas. The reusable New Shepard rocket will carry six passengers on a 10-12 minute suborbital flight. Confirmed crew members include Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Dr. Richard Scott, and Tushar Shah, with the sixth passenger yet to be revealed. The mission patch symbolizes the crew’s diverse backgrounds and achievements. Passengers will experience a brief period of weightlessness and stunning Earth views. The flight marks another step in Blue Origin’s space tourism efforts. Founded by Jeff Bezos, the company continues expanding access to space travel.

CONTENTS:

• Meet the NS-30 Crew
• Symbolism Behind the Mission Patch
• The New Shepard Experience
• Blue Origin Sets February 25 for 10th Crewed New Shepard Launch

Blue Origin Set for 10th Space Tourism Launch on Feb. 25—Meet the Crew!

Jeff Bezos’ spaceflight company, Blue Origin, is preparing for its 10th space tourism mission, scheduled for Tuesday, February 25. The New Shepard rocket is set to launch from the company’s West Texas site at 11:30 a.m. EST (1630 GMT; 9:30 a.m. local time). The event will be streamed live, with coverage beginning 35 minutes before liftoff.

The mission, designated NS-30, marks the 30th overall launch of the reusable New Shepard rocket-capsule system. While many of its past missions have focused on uncrewed research, this one will carry six passengers on a brief suborbital journey lasting approximately 10 to 12 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown.

Five of the six crew members have been announced: venture capitalist Lane Bess (making his second trip on New Shepard), Spanish TV host Jesús Calleja, physicist and entrepreneur Elaine Chia Hyde, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Richard Scott, and hedge fund partner Tushar Shah. The identity of the sixth passenger has not yet been revealed.

Blue Origin also unveiled the official mission patch for NS-30, featuring symbolic elements that represent the crew members’ backgrounds and experiences. Highlights include a mountain, symbolizing Calleja’s achievements in mountaineering, and an airplane with clouds, reflecting the aviation experience of multiple crew members. A dove with an olive branch signifies hopes for peace, while the Southern Cross pays tribute to Hyde’s Australian and Singaporean heritage. Additionally, the Roman numeral II marks Bess’ second spaceflight, and a winding road leading to the capsule represents each astronaut’s journey to space.

Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos in 2000, continues to advance space tourism, making suborbital travel accessible to private individuals.

Meet the NS-30 Crew

Five of the six crew members have been announced:

• Lane Bess – A venture capitalist, Bess will be making his second trip on New Shepard, marking him as one of the few repeat customers of Blue Origin’s space tourism program.
• Jesús Calleja – A Spanish TV host and adventurer, Calleja is known for his exploration and mountaineering experiences, having climbed the world’s Seven Summits.
• Elaine Chia Hyde – An entrepreneur and physicist, Hyde has contributed to technology advancements and scientific research.
• Dr. Richard Scott – A reproductive endocrinologist, Scott brings a medical background to the flight.
• Tushar Shah – A hedge fund partner with a passion for aviation, Shah joins the mission with a wealth of experience in finance.

The identity of the sixth passenger has yet to be revealed, adding an element of intrigue to the mission.

Symbolism Behind the Mission Patch

Blue Origin also unveiled the official mission patch for NS-30, incorporating symbols that represent the diverse backgrounds and achievements of the crew:

• A mountain – Symbolizing Calleja’s mountaineering achievements.
• An airplane and clouds – Representing the aviation background of Calleja, Hyde, Scott, and Shah, all of whom are pilots.
• A dove with an olive branch – Signifying peace, a message particularly important to Calleja and Bess.
• The Southern Cross – A nod to Hyde’s Australian and Singaporean heritage.
• The Roman numeral II – A reference to Bess’ second spaceflight.
• A winding road leading to the crew capsule – Symbolizing each astronaut’s journey to space.

The New Shepard Experience

Passengers aboard New Shepard will experience a few minutes of weightlessness as the capsule reaches the edge of space, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth’s surface. The large windows of the capsule will offer breathtaking views of the planet before the crew begins their descent back to the West Texas desert. The entire trip, from liftoff to landing, lasts just over 10 minutes, making it a brief but unforgettable experience.

Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos in 2000, has been a key player in the private space tourism industry. With successful crewed missions and increasing demand for commercial space travel, the company continues to push the boundaries of suborbital tourism, making space more accessible to private individuals.

Blue Origin Sets February 25 for 10th Crewed New Shepard Launch

Blue Origin has scheduled its 10th crewed suborbital New Shepard mission for February 25, with liftoff set to take place from Launch Site One near Van Horn, Texas. The launch window is set to open at 10:30 a.m. EST, according to a company announcement on February 21. This marks the 30th overall flight of the New Shepard rocket.

Mark Carreau, a veteran aerospace journalist based in Houston, has covered the industry for over 25 years. During his tenure at the Houston Chronicle, he received recognition from the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation in 2006 for his contributions to public understanding of America’s space program.