Blue Origin Successfully Launches NS-27 Mission, Debuting New Human-Rated Vehicle

Blue Origin successfully completed its 27th flight of the New Shepard spacecraft, marking another step towards enhancing suborbital travel capabilities. This uncrewed mission took place on 23 October at 11:25 a.m. EST from Launch Site One in West Texas, following a couple of previous launch attempts that were postponed due to vehicle issues and GPS concerns.

This flight showcased the new NS-27 vehicle, specifically designed to accommodate an “expanded flight capacity to meet growing customer demand.” Although there were no passengers onboard this time, the New Shepard’s first vehicle has already successfully carried humans on eight of its 26 missions to date.

The launch was not just a demonstration. It also carried 12 payloads, primarily for research purposes. The flight lasted approximately 10 to 12 minutes, featuring a booster that successfully returned to the launch site for a controlled landing after separation, while the crew capsule, RSS Kármán Line, ascended to suborbital heights before descending with a parachute landing.

Update 7 October: Blue Origin Delays Debute Launch Of The New Crew Capsule For NS-27 Mission

Blue Origin scrubs the second human-rated spacecraft set for the launch of its NS-27 mission. The launch was scheduled for Monday, 7 October, at 9 AM ET. According to the company’s announcement, the capsule boasts improved performance and reusability, as well as new design features and enhancements for accommodating payloads on the booster.

Blue Origin has yet to set a new launch date for NS-27, which will take off from the company’s facility in West Texas. NS-27 will be the inaugural flight of the second human-rated New Shepard spacecraft, featuring a first stage called Booster 5 and a crew capsule known as RSS Kármán Line.

Scientific Payloads on Board

This mission will carry a total of 12 payloads, including two LIDAR sensors crucial to Blue Origin’s Lunar Permanence program, which focuses on the development of Moon landers. Other payloads include ultra-wideband proximity sensors, a reproduction of the iconic black monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and postcards from students submitted to Blue Origin’s Club for the Future initiative.

Launch Streaming and Future Plans

The launch will be streamed live on Blue Origin’s website, with coverage beginning 15 minutes before the scheduled liftoff. If all goes according to plan, this will mark the second New Shepard flight since May, when Blue Origin completed its first crewed mission since 2022. The company also conducted an additional New Shepard flight in August.

Blue Origin’s Ambition and Future

The NS-27 mission is part of Blue Origin’s broader goal to compete with SpaceX in the private space industry. Blue Origin’s CEO, Dave Limp, stated in an interview with CNBC that the company aims to build hardware much faster to establish itself as a world-class manufacturer. Limp shared that by the end of the year, Blue Origin aims to produce an engine every 10 days, with further acceleration planned for 2025.

Looking ahead, Blue Origin is preparing for the highly anticipated launch of its reusable booster, New Glenn, which successfully completed its first second-stage hot fire test. The New Glenn rocket is capable of delivering over 99,000 pounds into low Earth orbit, nearly double the capacity of SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Blue Origin also hopes to land the booster on its first flight, which is scheduled for November.