Topic: [Discuss] Blue Origin New Shepard first crew
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-16-2021 09:19 PM
From Jeff Bezos (via Instagram):
The four of us have just arrived in West Texas today. Can't wait for Tuesday!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-17-2021 02:50 PM
Blue Origin release
Watch Live: First Human Flight Pre-Launch Mission Briefing
On Sunday, July 18, Blue Origin will host a pre-launch mission briefing live from Launch Site One in West Texas. The event will be broadcast on BlueOrigin.com beginning at 11:00 a.m. CDT / 16:00 UTC.
The briefing will provide final details about the Tuesday, July 20, First Human Flight mission, including updates on vehicle readiness, flight and safety preparedness, and astronaut training.
Participants:
Bob Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Steve Lanius, Lead Flight Director
Audrey Powers, Vice President, New Shepard Operations
Chris Jaeger, Chief Engineer, New Shepard
Ariane Cornell, Director of Astronaut Sales
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-19-2021 09:26 AM
NBC Today Show interview with the crew:
CBS This Morning:
ABC Good Morning America interview:
CNN interview:
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-19-2021 10:12 AM
From Jeff Bezos via Instagram:
We've been practicing full missions in New Shepard’s training simulator. Can’t wait for liftoff.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-20-2021 03:51 AM
Blue Origin video
On July 20, Blue Origin will fly its 16th New Shepard flight to space, and its first with astronauts on board. Broadcast starts at T-90 minutes to launch.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-20-2021 09:26 AM
"Key Mission Stats" From Blue Origin (via Twitter):
Crew capsule apogee:
347,563 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) 351,210 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) (105 km AGL/107 km MSL)
Booster apogee:
347,188 feet AGL 350,835 feet MSL (105 km AGL / 106 km MSL)
Elapsed mission time: 10:10
Max ascent velocity: 2,233 mph (3,595 km/h)
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-20-2021 10:27 AM
Blue Origin video
Blue Origin hosts a press conference with New Shepard's first astronaut crew.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1152 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 07-20-2021 07:01 PM
Congratulations to Blue Origin!
As per Virgin Galactic, I don't think of these people as astronauts, but I'm perfectly willing to call them space travelers.
Gilbert Member
Posts: 1427 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
posted 07-21-2021 09:53 AM
Congratulations!
p51 Member
Posts: 1737 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 07-21-2021 12:17 PM
This and the recent Virgin Galactic flight are groundbreaking events, more so than the public seems to understand.
I'm reading a lot of "why couldn't Bezos donate that money to ____ instead," stuff online, but while it's a rich person's thing right now, people need to see that flying in general was a rich person's thing at first before it became affordable and common for most folks.
These are very important steps to opening space to 'normal' people eventually.
quote:Originally posted by SkyMan1958: As per Virgin Galactic, I don't think of these people as astronauts, but I'm perfectly willing to call them space travelers.
I can't help but think of Mike Mullane's (excellent) book, where he refers to the non-military Mission Specialists in the early shuttle era as "Post-Docs," for much of the book and how the other 'professional astronauts' viewed them. That seemed to have changed soon enough, though.
This is something that has been building for quite some time. You'd think that once the FAA managed to figure out the commercial astronaut wings/ratings, they'd have also figured out titles for civilian passengers on such a trip. It's not like nobody saw this coming.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-21-2021 12:31 PM
The FAA's term for passengers is human spaceflight participant:
Human Spaceflight Participant: Someone who is engaging in spaceflight as a paying passenger but is not a member of the crew or launch provider.
But no one wants to be called a "participant."
People who fly to space will be called astronauts so long as they desire the title. At some point, so many people will have flown that calling oneself an astronaut will be embarrassing and the term will revert back to only describing those who fly to space as their career.
thisismills Member
Posts: 467 From: Michigan Registered: Mar 2012
posted 07-21-2021 08:11 PM
quote:Originally posted by p51: This and the recent Virgin Galactic flight are groundbreaking events, more so than the public seems to understand.
I agree. It would great if it follows a path similar to aviation and those with less resources could fly into space as the process evolves.
I find the discussion about space flight roles and titles also very interesting. My two cents below, if it were up to me:
Title: Astronaut - would be reserved for a job.
It describes someone who has made the decision to pursue working in space as a career. They would have had training and acquired a proficiency in skills related to space flight. These activities could be as complicated as flying a spacecraft or as simple as making specific observations and reporting about them. A person could hold this title even if they have not been in space... they train with the intent of going but circumstances ultimately prevent them from ever reaching space.
Title: Passenger - would be reserved for a person holding a ticket.
Much like aviation, it describes someone who is participating in a flight but the activities enabling the success of that specific flight is not part of their responsibility. They would have been given training in safety procedures for while riding inside the vehicle and what to do in the event of an unlikely emergency. They may personally be capable of performing more actions than the training provides but the ability of the flight to take place does not require them to do so.
I believe that anyone riding in the back on Virgin Galactic or inside Blue Origin who is flying solely to perform required tasks for receiving their salary at their job with the company would be considered an astronaut. Everyone else is a passenger.
"I'm an astronaut" vs. "I've been to space," both impressive now, but the latter being less so as time goes on.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-21-2021 09:52 PM
You say "much like aviation" with regards to the title passenger; at the beginning, anyone who rode on a plane, whether they were the pilot or a passenger was called an "aviator."
That is where we are now with spaceflight: anyone who is aboard a spacecraft is an astronaut.
Like aviation, there will come a point where passengers will become "passengers," without anyone having to tell them they are. It will just be obvious that "astronaut" is no longer a distinction but a job description.
thisismills Member
Posts: 467 From: Michigan Registered: Mar 2012
posted 07-22-2021 12:02 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: ...at the beginning, anyone who rode on a plane, whether they were the pilot or a passenger was called an "aviator."
Yes, thank you. I missed adding in that point above.
NukeGuy Member
Posts: 83 From: Irvine, CA USA Registered: May 2014
posted 07-22-2021 01:03 PM
I don’t think the flights during the early years of aviation cost $200,000 even when inflation is accounted for. They are going to have to do a lot of flights just to recoup the cost of development. Even more to get some kind of Wright’s Law effect.
Early aviation held the promise of rapid transport of people and cargo. Not so with these flights.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-22-2021 05:48 PM
From former NASA astronaut and Blue Origin senior director of human integration Nick Patrick (via Twitter):
I started at Blue Origin in 2012 and have been fortunate to work on every New Shepard mission in its history. Serving as Flight Director for the First Human Flight roll-out has been a highlight!
dom Member
Posts: 965 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 07-23-2021 06:43 PM
Great, at least this announcement has nipped this one in the bud...
New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules say astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety.
That means Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson may not yet be astronauts in the eyes of the US government.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-23-2021 07:40 PM
The FAA does not decide who is an astronaut. Nor does the U.S. government.
FAA Commercial Astronaut wings are just that, wings for commercial astronauts. You can be an astronaut and not be a commercial astronaut.
That said, Richard Branson was a member of the Virgin Galactic flight crew and is almost certainly going to receive FAA Astronaut Wings, as Beth Moses did before him. And, as the article notes, Jeff Bezos could qualify for the new honorary wings, given his contributions to commercial spaceflight.
dom Member
Posts: 965 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 07-24-2021 04:56 AM
Point taken Robert, I definitely wouldn’t deny Branson and Bezos their wings as they have made genuine contributions to the start of the commercial spaceflight era.
My hope is that "Astronaut Wings" are not seen as an automatic right (and something to boast about) for those purchasing expensive tickets on what are effectively just ten minute joy rides above the atmosphere!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-24-2021 10:20 AM
Every paying passenger who flies on SpaceShipTwo (or SpaceShip3) or New Shepard will receive astronaut wings from either Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin. They will also all be eligible to wear the Universal Astronaut Insignia from the Association of Space Explorers.
At its most basic definition, an astronaut is someone who has flown to space. There is no time requirement or condition as to who paid for the flight.
Kids playing football (soccer) on a field can boast about making a goal just as a professional can do making a goal in the World Cup. Neither boast hurts the other and, in fact, an argument can be made both types of players need each other.
OLDIE Member
Posts: 321 From: Portsmouth, England Registered: Sep 2004
posted 07-24-2021 10:34 AM
Well said Robert!
dom Member
Posts: 965 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 07-24-2021 11:59 AM
They’ll always have an big asterisk beside their name in my book. A bit like those fake degrees you can buy online...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-07-2021 12:27 PM
Grapevine, Texas held a hometown hero parade and celebration for Wally Funk on Saturday (Aug. 7). From Grapevine Parks & Recreation (via Twitter):
Wally Funk's Welcome Home Parade on Main Street was a hit! We're so thrilled for Wally's adventure to space!
The festivities included a special Sonic Blast (with all of Funk's favorites: vanilla ice cream, bananas, chocolate syrup, nuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top) and a Weinberger's Deli sandwich named in her honor (Wally Funk's Ham Sandwich, with hot Virginia ham, Swiss cheese, tomato and "rocket sauce").
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-01-2021 10:35 AM
Guinness World Records has awarded the NS-16 crew four world records:
The youngest and oldest people to travel to space, first siblings in space at the same time as well as the first spacecraft to carry paying customers - Blue Origin's first crewed New Shepard flight made history.
PeterO Member
Posts: 436 From: North Carolina Registered: Mar 2002
posted 10-02-2021 07:29 AM
...as well as the first spacecraft to carry paying customers
I think this record needs to be worded more specifically. Wasn't Dennis Tito the first individual to pay for a trip to space, via Soyuz to the ISS 20 years ago? And certainly there's a paying customer behind every flight, be it an individual, corporate or government entity.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-02-2021 08:38 AM
If you follow the link to the full citation, the record is identified as the "first suborbital spacecraft to carry paying customers," which is true. All prior suborbital spacecraft were crewed by company or government representatives.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-07-2022 10:12 PM
Wally Funk has won the 2022 Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement as presented by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Funk embodies the adage of "never give up on your dreams." Since her first flying lesson in 1948 at age 9 and enrollment in flight school at 16, Funk knew that she wanted to fly, despite societal biases against women in aviation.
After earning multiple certificates and ratings, she set her sights even higher in the sky—space. She was one of the top-performing participants in the Lovelace Woman in Space Program and was the first woman to serve as an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. She dedicated decades of her life to flight instruction and safety, having logged over 19,600 hours of flight time and soloed more than 700 students, while never abandoning her dream of going to space.
In 2021, that dream came true when she launched on the first crewed suborbital mission of Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule.
posted 07-16-2021 09:19 PM
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