EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Blue Origin’s next flight will simulate the moon’s gravity and will fly 30 payloads, according to the company.
The next New Shepard flight, NS-29, is scheduled for early next week. The launch window opens at 9 a.m. Mountain Time on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from Lanuch Site One outside of Van Horn, Texas.
The payloads will experience at least two minutes of lunar gravity forces, a first for New Shepard.
The flight will test six broad lunar technology areas: in-situ resource utilization (materials from other planets, moons or asteroids); dust mitigation; advanced habitation systems; sensors and instrumentation; small spacecraft technologies; and entry descent and landing.
“Proving out these technologies at lower cost is another step toward Blue Origin’s mission to lower the cost of access to space for the benefit of Earth. It also enables NASA and other lunar surface technology providers to test innovations critical to achieving Artemis program goals and exploring the Moon’s surface,” Blue Origin said in a news release.
New Shepard’s 29th flight brings the total number of commercial payloads flown on New Shepard to more than 175, the company said. Of this mission’s 30 payloads, 29 will fly inside the crew capsule and one will fly on the booster with exposure to the ambient space environment, Blue Origin said.
The mission will also carry thousands of postcards on behalf of Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s STEAM-focused nonprofit whose mission is to inspire and mobilize future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
A webcast of the flight will begin 15 minutes before liftoff. You can click here to learn more about the flight and Blue Origin.