Blue Origin NS-26
Sub-orbital flight with NASA-funded plant gene expression experiments.
Blue Origin NS-26 launched on August 29, 2024, aboard the New Shepard rocket. The sub-orbital flight carried a varied group of passengers.
Among them was Rob Ferl, a University of Florida professor and NASA-funded scientist. He conducted experiments on how a single plant species alters gene expression during microgravity and other flight phases. Ferl was the first NASA-funded researcher to fly on New Shepard—or on any commercial suborbital vehicle of the 21st century—with support from NASA’s Flight Opportunities program.
Nicolina Elrick, a British entrepreneur from Scotland, is a permanent resident of Singapore and plans to become a citizen there.
Eiman Jahangir’s seat was sponsored by MoonDAO, a cryptocurrency-focused spaceflight accelerator. He participated in two research studies: Vanderbilt’s CHIVE registry and biorepository, and Cornell’s Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) study.
Karsen Kitchen, at 21, became the youngest woman and youngest American to cross the Kármán line (100 km). Anastatia Mayers, who previously held the record for youngest woman to fly above 50 miles (the U.S. definition of space), retained that title after Kitchen’s flight.
Quick Facts
- Mission Type
- Sub-orbital human spaceflight
- Suborbital Apogee
- 105 km
- Spacecraft
- RSS First Step
- Manufacturer
- Blue Origin
- Crew Size
- 6
- Crew Members
- Ephraim Rabin · Nicolina Elrick · Eugene Grin · Rob Ferl · Karsen Kitchen · Eiman Jahangir
- Launch Rocket
- New Shepard (NS4)
- Launch Site
- Corn Ranch, LS-1
- Landing Site
- Corn Ranch
- Insignia Caption
- Blue Origin NS-26 mission patch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The flight's passengers included NASA-funded scientist Rob Ferl, a professor at the University of Florida, who performed experiments studying changes in gene expression in one type of plant when exposed to microgravity and other flight phases. Ferl was the first NASA-funded researcher to fly aboard New Shepard or any commercial suborbital space vehicle of the 21st century, with his flight and experiments funded by NASA's Flight Opportunities program.
Nicolina Elrick, a British citizen from Scotland and a permanent resident of Singapore, flew as an entrepreneur. Eiman Jahangir's flight was sponsored by MoonDAO, a cryptocurrency spaceflight accelerator organization; he participated in two science research studies before and after his flight: Vanderbilt's CHIVE registry and biorepository, and Cornell University's SOMA study.
Karsen Kitchen became the youngest woman and youngest American to cross the Kármán line (100 km) at 21 years old. Anastatia Mayers was at the time the youngest woman to fly to space (above 50 miles altitude, US definition of space) and remained so after Kitchen's flight.
Reader's Guide
Blue Origin NS-26 is significant as a commercial sub-orbital mission that advanced both space tourism and scientific research. It marked the first time a NASA-funded researcher flew on a commercial suborbital vehicle, enabling real-time plant gene expression experiments in microgravity. The flight also highlighted the growing role of cryptocurrency organizations in funding spaceflight, as MoonDAO sponsored Eiman Jahangir's participation. Additionally, the mission set records for the youngest woman and youngest American to cross the Kármán line, while preserving Anastatia Mayers's record as the youngest woman to fly to space under the US definition. The flight demonstrates the expanding diversity of commercial spaceflight participants, from scientists and entrepreneurs to record-seeking individuals, and underscores the integration of academic research into private space missions.
Did You Know?
- Eiman Jahangir's flight was sponsored by the cryptocurrency spaceflight accelerator organization MoonDAO.
- Anastatia Mayers remained the youngest woman to fly to space (above 50 miles altitude) after Karsen Kitchen's flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blue Origin NS-26?
It is a suborbital spaceflight operated by Blue Origin that took place on August 29, 2024, aboard the company's New Shepard rocket. The mission carried a diverse crew of passengers on a brief trip beyond the Kármán line.
Who flew on Blue Origin NS-26?
The passenger manifest included Rob Ferl, a University of Florida professor; Nicolina Elrick, a Scottish entrepreneur; Eiman Jahangir; Karsen Kitchen; and Anastatia Mayers. The group spanned scientific, business, and other professional backgrounds.
Why is Blue Origin NS-26 considered a milestone?
It was the first flight in the 21st century to carry a NASA-funded researcher on a commercial suborbital vehicle, thanks to Rob Ferl's participation under NASA's Flight Opportunities program. That made it a landmark moment for government-backed science in the commercial spaceflight era.
What research was conducted during Blue Origin NS-26?
Rob Ferl ran experiments tracking how a single plant species shifts its gene expression across microgravity and the other phases of the flight. His work was supported through NASA's Flight Opportunities program.
What vehicle and operator were behind Blue Origin NS-26?
Blue Origin launched the mission using its New Shepard reusable rocket system. The flight followed the standard suborbital profile, carrying its crew above the edge of space and back to a parachute-assisted landing.
More in Suborbital human spaceflights 1-24
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