Tag: Blue Origin

ASCEND Mourns the Passing of Citizen Astronaut Glen de Vries

November 13, 2021 – Reston, Va. – ASCEND, the interdisciplinary community on the planet dedicated to building humanity’s off-world future faster, mourns the passing of Citizen Astronaut Glen de Vries. ASCEND is powered by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:

“We are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Glen de Vries. Through his involvement onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-18 mission, he helped open up access to space for everyone. The ASCEND community was looking forward to celebrating his space journey with him next week. His pioneering efforts will be remembered as more people travel to space to live and work in the coming years.”

Blue Origin’s Second Human-rated New Shepard Makes First Flight

Space News reports, “Blue Origin carried out the first flight of a new model of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle Oct. 23, a mission the company called ‘nominal and on target’ despite going to a slightly lower altitude than past flights. The uncrewed NS-27 mission lifted off from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas at 11:26 a.m. Eastern. The company had scrubbed an initial launch attempt Oct. 7 for unspecified technical issues that could not be resolved before the launch window closed, and Blue Origin called off a second attempt Oct. 13 ‘to troubleshoot a GPS issue.’”
Full Story (Space News)
More Info (AIAA Statement)

 

Video

New Shepard Mission NS-27 (Launch at 10:53 mark)
(Blue Origin; YouTube)

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Launch Delayed Until 12 January

The Guardian reports Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch is delayed until at least 12 January due to conditions in the Atlantic, where the booster is slated to land. A statement from the company read: “We’re shifting our NG-1 launch date to no earlier than January 12 due to a high sea state in the Atlantic, where we hope to land our booster.”
Full Story (The Guardian)

Blue Origin Conducts Hot Fire Test on New Glenn’s Upper Stage

Aviation Week reports, “Blue Origin on Sept. 23 conducted a 15-sec. hot fire of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen-fueled upper stage for its first New Glenn rocket, in what the company called a critical milestone on the road to flight. The static test fire at Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral SFS marked Blue Origin’s first fueling of a New Glenn rocket stage with flight propellants, and the first engine burn of an integrated flight stage.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket Successfully Launches

AP reports that Blue Origin successfully “launched a rocket carrying experiments on Tuesday, its first flight since engine trouble caused a crash more than a year ago.” The New Shepard rocket “soared from West Texas, lifting a capsule full of tests, many of which were aboard the failed Blue Origin launch in September 2022.” No one “was aboard that flight or this latest one.” This time, the capsule “made it to the fringes of space, exposing the experiments from NASA and others to a few minutes of weightlessness, before parachuting back down to the desert.” The rocket “landed first, after releasing the capsule.” It “reached an altitude of 66 miles (107 kilometers) during the 10-minute flight.”
Full Story (Associated Press)
More Info (AIAA Statement)

Video

Blue Origin New Shepard Mission Launch 19 Dec. 2023
(YouTube)

Blue Origin Delays New Shepard Launch

SPACE reports that Blue Origin’s first mission “in more than 15 months was officially delayed on Monday (Dec. 18) after a last-minute scrub.” Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle “was originally supposed to lift off as early as 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT or 8:30 a.m. EST) on Monday.” Following a one-hour delay “due to cold temperatures at the company’s West Texas site, however, Blue Origin announced a scrub on X, formerly known as Twitter.” Officials said, “We’re scrubbing #NS24 today due to a ground system issue the team is troubleshooting. We’ll provide a new launch target for this week soon.”
Full Story (SPACE)

Blue Origin to Resume New Shepard Suborbital Launches

Space News reports that Blue Origin “has announced plans to launch its New Shepard suborbital vehicle on its first flight since a mishap more than 15 months ago.” Blue Origin “announced on social media Dec. 12 that it will launch its New Shepard vehicle no earlier than Dec. 18 from its West Texas test site.” The vehicle “will carry 33 experiments as well as 38,000 postcards from Club for the Future, the educational nonprofit affiliated with the company.” The mission, designated NS-24, “would be the first for New Shepard since a mishap on a September 2022 flight, NS-23.”
Full Story (Space News)

Blue Origin Receives USSF Funding for Integration Studies Related to New Glenn Launch Vehicle

Space News reports that Blue Origin “has secured a contract with the U.S. Space Force for integration studies related to its New Glenn launch vehicle.” The new agreement “marks a significant step in Blue Origin’s potential participation in the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, a multi-billion dollar procurement of launch services for national security satellites.” The Space Force “awarded Blue Origin nearly $18 million for ‘National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 early integration studies to assess launch vehicle trajectory and mission design, coupled launch loads, and integrated thermal environments to inform compatibility between launch vehicles and space vehicles for missions planned in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.’”
Full Story (Space News)

Blue Origin, SpaceX Competition Boosts Supply Chain Companies’ Bottom Lines

Bloomberg reports that as private space firms “like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin step up rocket production and development and more nations race to the moon, mid-size manufacturers that provide their equipment and supplies are reaping the benefits.” Companies including “satellite builder MDA Ltd, heat-transfer manufacturer Graham Corp, and aluminum maker Constellium SE all saw share gains of two-thirds or more in 2023, driven in part by the billions of dollars in private and government funding for space exploration and the creation of large-scale satellite networks.”
Full Story (Bloomberg – Subscription Publication)

AIAA Statement on Design/Build/Launch Student Experiments Onboard Successful Blue Origin New Shepard Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher:

“Congratulations to the Blue Origin team on today’s successful return to flight for their New Shepard rocket. AIAA recognizes the countless industry professionals who support New Shepard. We applaud AIAA Corporate Member Blue Origin for its perseverance in addressing the findings from the NS-23 mission mishap to achieve this successful mission today.

We are thrilled that two AIAA-sponsored student experiments were conducted during today’s New Shepard flight. The two experiments are winners of the Design/Build/Launch (DBL) competition sponsored by AIAA and Blue Origin:

  • Improving Fluid Management Through A Novel Microgravity Slosh Mitigation Technique by Eleanor Sigrest, graduate and valedictorian of a dual program at Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, and the Governor’s School at Innovation Park, Manassas, Virginia
  • Acoustic Levitation Under Variable G by Puneeth Bheesetty, Anna Porter Puckett, and Jaden Shawyer, graduates ofGranby High School, Norfolk, Virginia

The DBL program is targeted to high school students, giving them an opportunity to develop creative research proposals for experimental payloads designed to study short-duration microgravity effects. The winners received $1,000 grants to prepare their work for flight onboard New Shepard.

We are excited to witness these students conducting their microgravity experiments and we can’t wait to hear more about their results. Their enthusiasm and passion inspire us as we anticipate their remarkable career journeys toward shaping the future of aerospace.”

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

 

Video

Blue Origin New Shepard Mission Launch 19 Dec. 2023
(YouTube)

Commercial Space Companies Warn Congress to Improve Regulations or US May Lose Spaceflight Lead

Spaceflight Now reports that the three companies that “have flown people to space and back, Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, joined two experts at a Congressional hearing to press for regulatory improvements, warning the US risks losing its lead in spaceflight.” The 1.5-hour-long hearing “before the US Senate Subcommittee on Space and Science was mainly focused on a regulatory framework called ‘Part 450,’ which was designed to help streamline the process of issuing launch licenses under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which goes by the acronym AST.” The five witnesses “argued that not only is the current regulatory framework not achieving its ideal goals, but it is stifling growth and innovation in the commercial launch market.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket May Fly Soon Following Closing of FAA Investigation

The Orlando (FL) Sentinel reports that on Wednesday, the FAA “said it had closed its investigation into the flight of an uncrewed Blue Origin New Shepard rocket that ended with its booster destroyed and a capsule that had to use its emergency escape system.” The September 12, 2022, “mishap” was due to a “structural failure of an engine nozzle caused by higher than expected engine operating temperatures,” according to a release from the FAA. With the nozzle too hot, it “caused a trajectory change about one minute after liftoff from Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site.” The capsule on the NS-23 mission “that was carrying science payloads performed as designed, though, blasting away from the booster after which it performed a parachute-assisted landing near the launch site.” The FAA’s investigation “resulted in 21 corrective actions Blue Origin had to undertake, including a redesign of the engine and nozzle components so the rocket boosters won’t suffer the same fate on future missions.” While the rocket “remains grounded for now, Blue Origin on its social media posted that flights would resume shortly.”
Full Story (Orlando Sentinel)

Florida’s Space Coast Adds Another Rocket with ULA’s Vulcan Centaur’s Arrival

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the Space Coast “has another new rocket in town as the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur arrived by ship over the weekend ahead of its first-ever launch this year.” The replacement for ULA’s Atlas V and Delta IV rockets “still has testing to endure at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, as well as the integration of its payloads, but the hardware separated into three massive parts was offloaded from the company’s RocketShip transport on Sunday.” It arrived at Port Canaveral “the day before after traveling more than 2,000 miles by river and ocean rom ULA’s factory in Decatur, Alabama.” Its arrival “marks the fourth new orbital-class rocket to call the Space Coast home in just over a year joining NASA’s Space Launch System that took off from Kennedy Space Center for the first time last November on the Artemis I mission, small rocket provider Astra Space’s Rocket 3.3, which had two launches from Cape Canaveral, and Relativity Space’s Terran-1, a 3D-printed rocket awaiting its first-ever launch early this year from Canaveral as well.”
Full Story (Orlando Sentinel – Subscription publication)

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-20 Mission

March 31, 2022 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate the Blue Origin team on its successful NS-20 mission. This mission continues building on Blue Origin’s vision to see millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Through this mission, we are seeing Blue Origin’s progress opening up access to space travel for more even people from all walks of life.

We are especially thrilled to follow George Nield’s journey as part of the NS-20 astronaut crew. Dr. Nield is a member of the AIAA Board of Trustees, a lifetime member of the Institute, and an AIAA Fellow. We can’t wait to hear about his experience!

Astronaut training, day two. Credit: Blue Origin–©
Astronaut training, day two. | Credit: Blue Origin–©

We recognize the dedicated aerospace industry professionals involved in making today’s mission a success. We salute our corporate member, Blue Origin, and their entire team, for helping shape the future of aerospace.

AIAA is honored to be one of Blue Origin’s Club for the Future partner organizations to help develop and inspire the next generation of space professionals.”



Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About ASCEND Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About AIAA The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Register for ASCENDxTexas, set for 27–28 April in Houston, TX, or learn more.

 Video

New Shepard Mission NS-20 Webcast Replay (Blue Origin via YouTube)

ASCEND Guiding Coalition Members to Speak at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Space Event on 3 December in Washington, D.C.

MEDIA ADVISORY
CONTACT: Michele McDonald
703.264.7542
[email protected]

26 November 2019­ – Reston, Va. – AIAA members Ellen Stofan, Mary Lynne Dittmar, and Jim Chilton will be speaking at LAUNCH: The Space Economy, a space summit hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on 3 December 2019.

Stofan, Dittmar and Chilton are members of the Guiding Coalition of ASCEND, the world’s first outcomes-focused, cross-disciplinary event designed to accelerate the building of our off-world future.. ASCEND’s Guiding Coalition is led by former Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson.

Who: 

Ellen Stofan has more than 25 years of experience in space-related organizations and has a deep research background in planetary geology. She was the chief scientist at NASA and is now the John and Adrienne Mars Director at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Mary Lynne Dittmar is president and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, a recognized source for policy, technical and business information in aerospace. She is a member of the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group, the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Committee, and the Space Studies Board of the National Academies.

Jim Chilton is senior vice president of the Space and Launch division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The Space and Launch portfolio includes the International Space Station, the CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle, NASA’s Space Launch System, and other areas.

Rob Meyerson is the executive producer of ASCEND and leads the Guiding Coalition. He is the founder and CEO of Delalune Space, a management consulting company focused on aerospace, mobility and technology sectors. Rob is the former president of Blue Origin. Note: Meyerson will not be attending the event but will be available for interviews.

What:  LAUNCH: The Space Economy
When: Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H. Street NW
Washington, D.C., 20062

For more information about LAUNCH: The Space Economy hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, please visit https://www.uschamber.com/event/launch-the-space-economy

About ASCEND
A new event launched by AIAA, ASCEND is designed to drive the $1 trillion space economy forward, bringing together technical and business leaders to solve problems that affect the entire planet and beyond. The global eventis convening traditional and nontraditional players to help build the space economy. ASCEND’s inaugural event is 16–18 November 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, please visit www.ascend.events.

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 85 countries and 95 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, aiaa.org, or follow us on Twitter @AIAA.

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful New Shepard Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 20, 2021 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates our corporate member Blue Origin on its successful first human flight of its New Shepard rocket today. AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we are excited to congratulate Jeff Bezos and the Blue Origin team on their accomplishments today! The successful New Shepard Mission NS-16 builds upon today’s anniversary when we first touched the moon and accelerates us toward where we’re going next. Blue Origin is opening up access to space travel for more people. We believe this will help extend the human neighborhood beyond planet Earth.

We commend Blue Origin for turning this mission’s seat auction into inspiration. The AIAA Foundation is honored to be among the organizations chosen to receive $1 million each to inspire future generations to pursue STEM careers. We look forward to engaging students and educators with new, innovative, and creative STEM education opportunities, as well as expanding the robust K-12 and university programs we have enabled for the last 25 years.

We are excited to build on our existing partnership with Blue Origin through our Design/Build/Launch (DBL) competition, giving high school students opportunities to develop and fly microgravity research payloads onboard future missions of New Shepard. We are proud of our recently announced 2021 DBL winners – Puneeth Bheesetty, Anna Porter Puckett, and Jaden Shawyer – from Granby High School, Norfolk, Virginia. They join our 2020 DBL winner, Eleanor Sigrest, who recently graduated as valedictorian of a dual program at Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, and the Governor’s School at Innovation Park in Manassas, Virginia. We look forward to seeing their research payloads fly aboard New Shepard and hearing their results at an ASCEND event – a gathering of the global community focused on building humanity’s off-world future faster.

We recognize the countless aerospace industry professionals who are involved in making today’s mission a success. We salute and applaud the Blue Origin team for turning dreams into reality and helping shape the future of aerospace.”

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and serious enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

FAA Grounds Blue Origin New Shepard Rocket Pending Investigation of Aborted Launch

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the FAA has grounded the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket pending an investigation to “determine whether any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety” after the New Shepard suffered a launch mishap about a minute after liftoff. The FAA wrote, “The anomaly that occurred triggered the capsule escape system. The capsule landed safely and the booster impacted within the designated hazard area. No injuries or public property damage have been reported.”
Full Story (Orlando Sentinel)