RSS_First_Step

RSS <i>First Step</i>

RSS First Step

Blue Origin New Shepard capsule


RSS First Step (Reusable Space Ship First Step) is a New Shepard space capsule, built and operated by American spaceflight company Blue Origin.[1] It is the third New Shepard capsule to fly to space, and the first to fly passengers. Its first flight was the NS-14 mission, which reached an altitude of 107 km (66 mi) on 14 January 2021.[2]

Quick Facts First Step, Type ...

History

RSS First Step is the third New Shepard capsule built by Blue Origin, and the first designed to carry passengers. It flew to space for the first time on 14 January 2021, during the NS-14 spaceflight. NS-14 also served as the maiden flight of the NS4 propulsion module.[3] The following flight, NS-15, which was also flown uncrewed by First Step and NS4, tested boarding and deboarding in what Blue Origin called an "astronaut operational exercise."[4]

First Step flew Blue Origin's first crewed flight on 20 July 2021, carrying founder Jeff Bezos and three passengers to space.[5] This made Texas the fourth state to launch humans into space,[6] after Florida, California, and New Mexico. As of November 2022, it has flown five subsequent crewed spaceflights, carrying a total of 31 people into space, including one (Evan Dick) twice.

The New Shepard fleet was grounded until 2024 due to a failure during the NS-23 mission. The capsule used during the mission, RSS H.G. Wells, managed to abort successfully, while the booster was destroyed. The next mission NS-25 will occur following an investigation.[7]

Flights

More information Mission, Launch date (UTC) ...

References

  1. Burghardt, Thomas (14 January 2021). "Blue Origin tests New Shepard capsule upgrades on NS-14 mission". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  2. "Mission NS-14". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. Roulette, Joey (20 July 2021). "Blue Origin successfully sends Jeff Bezos and three others to space and back". The Verge. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  4. Leinfelder, Andrea (20 July 2021). "With Jeff Bezos on board, Blue Origin launches first crewed spaceflight from West Texas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  5. "Jeff Bezos launches to space aboard New Shepard rocket ship". BBC News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. "Blue Origin Completes Third Human Spaceflight". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  7. "Blue Origin's 20th Mission to Space". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022.

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