Blue Origin’s NS-26 astronaut launch on August 29: Timing and how to watch
Blue Origin’s NS-26 astronaut launch on August 29: Timing and how to watch
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Launch Date and Time
Blue Origin is set to launch its NS-26 mission on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The launch is scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) from the company’s West Texas spaceport near Van Horn.
Credit : Blue Origin
Mission Overview
The NS-26 mission will carry six space tourists aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and RSS First Step capsule. This marks the company’s second crewed mission since a nearly two-year hiatus due to a launch anomaly in September 2022.
Credit : Blue Origin
Flight History
NS-26 is the 26th overall launch of the New Shepard rocket and the eighth mission to carry passengers. The mission follows the NS-24 uncrewed science flight in December 2023 and the crewed NS-25 mission in May 2024.
How to Watch
Blue Origin will broadcast the launch live online. Coverage will begin approximately 40 minutes before liftoff, around 8:20 a.m. EDT (1220 GMT). The webcast can be viewed on Blue Origin’s website, YouTube channel, and on Space.com.
Credit : Blue Origin
Crew Details
The NS-26 mission will include philanthropist Nicolina Elrick, university professor Rob Ferl, businessman Eugene Grin, cardiologist Eiman Jahangir, college student Karsen Kitchen, and entrepreneur Ephraim Rabin. Ferl and Jahangir received sponsorships for their seats, while the others paid for theirs.
Credit : Blue Origin
Flight Experience
During the mission, the capsule will separate from the booster and fly into suborbital space, allowing the passengers to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and view Earth through the capsule’s large windows.
Landing Procedure
After the flight, the New Shepard booster will return to a vertical landing near the launch site, and the crew capsule will descend under parachutes, landing in the Texas desert.
Credit : Blue Origin
Potential Delays
While the launch is set for 9 a.m. EDT on August 29, weather or technical issues could cause delays. If the mission is postponed, the next possible launch window could be the following day, Friday, August 30, at the same time.
Credit : Blue Origin
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