US EditionBlue Origin launches 6 space tourists to the final frontier after last-minute crew swap
Blue Origin's NS-38 flight carried six passengers on an 11-minute suborbital trip providing several minutes of weightlessness and Earth views beyond the Kármán line.
- From Launch Site One in West Texas, Blue Origin's NS-38 mission lifted off with six people at 11:25 a.m. ET on Jan. 22, 2026, using the R.S.S. First Step capsule.
- After a last-minute roster change announced Jan. 20, 2026, Andrew Yaffe withdrew due to illness and Blue Origin paused the countdown to clear unauthorized people from the range.
- During ascent the rocket exceeded 2,000 mph before the New Shepard booster separated from the R.S.S. First Step crew capsule, which passed the Kármán line at 62 miles/100 kilometers and gave passengers minutes of weightlessness.
- The mission increased New Shepard's cumulative totals, as it has now flown 98 humans and the passengers join an exclusive club of celebrities and business leaders.
- Phil Joyce said, `As we enter 2026, we're focused on continuing to deliver transformational experiences for our customers through the proven capability and reliability of New Shepard`, as Blue Origin emphasizes New Shepard's autonomous, fully reusable design.
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Blue Origin launches 38th New Shepard flight into space
Blue Origin successfully launched its 38th New Shepard flight into space on Thursday. The flight took off from West Texas before landing safely roughly 10 minutes later. "We just completed our 38th flight of the New Shepard program and the first of 2026," Blue Origin wrote on its website. "New Shepard has now flown 98 humans (92 individuals) into space."Blue Origin said the crew of New Shepard Mission NS-38 are Tim Drexler, a helicopter and airl…
Spanish businessman Alberto Gutierrez was part of the crew of six people from Blue Origin's NS-38 mission, which took off and landed successfully from the launch site of Jeff Bezos' company in Texas.
Bezos's Blue Origin launches six paying customers on tourist flight to space
Blue Origin's NS-38 mission successfully carried six passengers, including Laura Stiles, to the edge of space tonight. The flight demonstrated the power of reusable rocket technology with a precision vertical landing.
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