Blue Origin plans to launch New Shepard’s NS-38 mission on Jan. 22, targeting 9:30 a.m. ET from Launch Site One in West Texas. The suborbital flight will carry six passengers to roughly 60 miles altitude for an ~11-minute mission that includes a few minutes of microgravity and wide views above the Kármán Line. Blue Origin will livestream the launch about 30 minutes before liftoff; the booster returns for a vertical landing while the capsule descends under parachutes.
Blue Origin to Launch Six Space Tourists on New Shepard Jan. 22 — Livestreamed Trip ~60 Miles High
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Jeff Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin is preparing to launch its New Shepard suborbital rocket from Launch Site One in West Texas, with liftoff targeted for Thursday, Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m. ET. The NS-38 mission will carry six passengers to roughly 60 miles above Earth, offering a few minutes of microgravity and panoramic views of the planet before returning to the desert for a soft landing.
Launch Window and Livestream
Blue Origin has named Jan. 22 as the target date and 9:30 a.m. ET as the liftoff window; the Federal Aviation Administration's advisory lists a backup opportunity the following day in case of delay. Blue Origin will provide a live webcast beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff on its website and on X.
Who’s On Board
Oklahoma native Andrew Yaffe, originally selected for this flight, withdrew due to illness and will be reassigned to a future mission, the company announced on Jan. 20. The six confirmed passengers for NS-38 are:
- Tim Drexler — Former owner and CEO of Ace Asphalt; private pilot.
- Linda Edwards — Retired board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and breast cancer survivor.
- Alain Fernandez — International real estate developer and investor.
- Alberto Gutiérrez — Entrepreneur and founder of Civitatis, a global tours and guides service.
- Jim Hendren — Retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former F-15 fighter pilot; ex-Arkansas state senator.
- Laura Stiles — Blue Origin’s Director of New Shepard Launch Operations.
Flight Profile: Quick, Autonomous, Reusable
New Shepard is a fully autonomous, suborbital vehicle named for astronaut Alan Shepard. Each mission lasts roughly 11 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown. The rocket accelerates past Mach 1 and exceeds 2,000 mph during ascent. After booster separation, the capsule follows a ballistic arc toward apogee, crossing the Kármán Line (about 62 miles), where passengers can unbuckle and float in microgravity for a few minutes and look out the capsule’s large windows.
The booster performs a powered, guided return and lands vertically near the launch site, while the capsule descends under three large parachutes for a soft touchdown in the desert.
Context and Costs
NS-38 will be New Shepard’s 38th flight overall and the 17th to carry people. Once launched, the six passengers will bring the total number of individuals flown on New Shepard to 92. New Shepard is distinct from Blue Origin’s much larger orbital rocket, New Glenn, which is intended for orbital payloads and has conducted launches from Florida.
Blue Origin does not publish retail ticket prices, but reservations require a $150,000 deposit. A high-profile auctioned seat on the company’s first crewed New Shepard flight in 2021 sold for $28 million; other seats have been covered through grants or institutional funding in select cases.
How To Watch
To follow the liftoff, visit Blue Origin’s official website or its X account about 30 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 a.m. ET liftoff window. The webcast typically includes preflight commentary, live rocket and capsule camera feeds, and post-landing coverage.
Reporting note: This article is based on Blue Origin’s public announcements, Federal Aviation Administration advisories and company-provided mission details for NS-38 and New Shepard operations.
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