Launch details

New Shepard | NS-29

Blue Origin

Commercial USA

West Texas Suborbital Launch Site/ Corn Ranch

Corn Ranch

Feb 04 at 09:30am

Launchpad time-0600

Feb 04 at 03:30pm

Your local time+0000

Current status

Launch Successful

New Shepard

Launch vehicle

NS-29

Mission

31.4229

Latitude

-104.7571

Longitude

Get notification

24 hours before launch

Get notification

1 hour before launch

Note: For all launches the scheduled launch dates and times are subject to change due to weather, equipment, crew and other factors.

Mission description

NS-29 will simulate the Moon’s gravity and fly 30 payloads, all but one of which is focused on testing lunar-related technologies. The payloads will experience at least two minutes of lunar gravity forces, a first for New Shepard and made possible in part through support from NASA. The flight will test six broad lunar technology areas: In-situ resource utilization, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors and instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry descent and landing. Proving out these technologies at lower cost is another step toward Blue Origin’s mission to lower the cost of access to space for the benefit of Earth. It also enables NASA and other lunar surface technology providers to test innovations critical to achieving Artemis program goals and exploring the Moon’s surface. The New Shepard crew capsule is using its Reaction Control System (RCS) to spin up to approximately 11 revolutions per minute. This spin rate simulates one-sixth Earth gravity at the midpoint of the crew capsule lockers. In simulated lunar gravity, customers can accelerate their learning and technology readiness for lunar payloads at much lower cost.

NS-29

Livestream

Attending a launch in person

Not open to the public. Blue Origin advise that they do not recommend people try to view their launches in person. Road closures by local law enforcement are used to eliminate potential viewing areas. The closest point on nearby Highway 54 is about 8 kilometers from the launch pad but it's difficult to say how much of the road will be closed on launch day.

How to get there

The closest commercial airport is El Paso International Airport in El Paso, Texas.

Driving from the airport it'll take 2 hours to get to nearby Van Horn and then a further 30 minutes to Corn Ranch.

Accomodation

Nearby hotels in Van Horn.

Nearby parking

Parking not available on-site.

Agency details

Blue Origin is a private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, aiming to make space travel more accessible through reusable rockets. Its New Shepard suborbital rocket is designed for space tourism, while the New Glenn orbital rocket is in development for more extensive missions, emphasizing sustainable spaceflight.