Blue Origin NS-19
Final FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings flight with six passengers.
Blue Origin NS-19 was a New Shepard sub-orbital spaceflight mission operated by Blue Origin that launched on 11 December 2021. The flight was originally scheduled for 9 December 2021 but was delayed. The passengers were nicknamed the 'Original Six' and included the daughter of the first U.S. astronaut in space, a Hall of Fame football player, and paying customers, including the first parent and child to fly together on the same spaceflight. The mission was notable as the final flight to award FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings.
Quick Facts
- Mission Type
- Sub-orbital human spaceflight
- Operator
- Blue Origin
- Suborbital Apogee
- 107 km
- Spacecraft
- RSS First Step
- Crew Size
- 6
- Crew Members
- Laura Shepard Churchley · Michael Strahan · Dylan Taylor · Evan Dick · Lane Bess · Cameron Bess
- Launch Rocket
- New Shepard (NS4)
- Launch Site
- Corn Ranch, LS-1
- Landing Site
- Corn Ranch
- Insignia Caption
- Blue Origin NS-19 mission patch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The mission patch of NS-19 featured the initials of Glen de Vries, who died in a plane crash a month after flying on Blue Origin's previous flight NS-18. The passengers included Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of Alan Shepard, the namesake of the New Shepard program, and Michael Strahan, a Hall of Fame former New York Giants defensive end and co-anchor of Good Morning America. Paying passengers were executive Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick, and Bess Ventures founder Lane Bess with his child Cameron Bess, who became the first parent and child on the same spaceflight.
Reader's Guide
Blue Origin NS-19 holds significance as the final mission to award the FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings, a badge created to encourage commercial spaceflight. The flight demonstrated the growing diversity of private space travelers, including the first parent-child duo and the first openly furry and pansexual astronaut. The mission also highlighted the intersection of commercial spaceflight with broader societal events, as the launch celebration occurred shortly after a fatal Amazon warehouse collapse, drawing public scrutiny of Jeff Bezos's priorities. The inclusion of Laura Shepard Churchley connected the mission to the legacy of Alan Shepard, while Michael Strahan's participation brought mainstream media attention. The flight marked a step in normalizing sub-orbital space tourism and expanding the demographics of who can reach space.
Did You Know?
- Cameron Bess became the first openly furry and first openly pansexual person to fly to space.
- Michael Strahan, at 6 feet 5 inches, became the tallest person to reach space.
- The launch occurred the day after a tornado caused an Amazon warehouse collapse in Illinois that killed six workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who flew on Blue Origin NS-19?
The six passengers, dubbed the 'Original Six,' were Laura Shepard Churchley, Michael Strahan, Dylan Taylor, Evan Dick, Lane Bess, and Cameron Bess. The group blended a Hall of Fame NFL star, the daughter of Alan Shepard (America's first human in space), and several paying customers.
When did Blue Origin NS-19 launch and what vehicle was used?
The mission lifted off on 11 December 2021 aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, after a two-day slip from its originally planned 9 December date.
Why is Blue Origin NS-19 considered a milestone in commercial spaceflight?
It was the final New Shepard mission in which passengers earned FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings, marking the end of that particular regulatory era. It also recorded the first time a parent and child shared the same suborbital flight.
What made the NS-19 crew lineup stand out to fans?
Fans highlight the mix of a legendary footballer, the child of a pioneering astronaut, and ordinary paying customers, making it one of the most personality-driven rosters in the New Shepard log. The inclusion of both Lane and Cameron Bess as a parent-child pair added a unique family dimension.
How many passengers were on Blue Origin NS-19?
Six people rode to the edge of space on that flight, consistent with the standard New Shepard crew complement for passenger missions.
More in Suborbital human spaceflights 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced