posted 01-16-2026 10:18 AM               

Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard Mission NS-38, Slated for January 22

Blue Origin today announced the crew and launch date for New Shepard Mission NS-38. Liftoff from Launch Site One in West Texas is slated for Thursday, January 22. The launch window opens at 8:30 AM CST / 14:30 UTC.

The crew includes Tim Drexler, Linda Edwards, Alain Fernandez, Alberto Gutiérrez, Jim Hendren, and Andrew Yaffe. To date, Blue Origin has flown 92 humans (86 individuals) above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. Live launch coverage will start 30 minutes prior to launch.

Meet the Crew

• Tim Drexler
  Tim Drexler is the former owner and CEO of Ace Asphalt, where he spent 40 years building the family business into a major civil contracting firm. In 2002, he was recognized with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. After selling the company, Tim pursued his passion for aviation, becoming both a helicopter and airplane pilot. Outside the cockpit, he is an avid gardener, cook, mountain biker, and home-automation enthusiast. Tim has been married to his wife, Pam, for 19 years. Traveling to space will be Tim's next great leap in aviation.

• Dr. Linda Edwards
  Dr. Linda Edwards is a retired board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist whose 40-year career was dedicated to caring for women. While working full-time after high school, she earned her bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Penn State University and later her medical degree from The Medical College of Pennsylvania. A traveler to more than 40 countries, wildlife advocate, award-winning equestrian, and two-time breast cancer survivor, she embraces her flight on New Shepard as the fulfillment of a dream four decades in the making for her. She hopes her flight helps to inspire other women to reach for their dreams.

• Alain Fernandez
  Alain Fernandez is an international real estate developer and investor whose three-decade career reflects resilience, discipline, and a relentless drive to carve his own path after a difficult apprenticeship in industrial mechanics. His early years as a scuba instructor across Europe and French Polynesia were marked by a life-altering diving accident at age 22, after which he rebuilt his career through perseverance and entrepreneurial instinct. A dedicated athlete, Alain lives with his wife, stepdaughter, and a lively family of pets. He approaches his New Shepard mission as another opportunity to push himself and explore what's possible.

• Alberto Gutiérrez
  Alberto Gutiérrez is an entrepreneur, technologist, and world traveler who has visited more than 100 countries across all seven continents. In 2008, he began writing travel guides, which evolved into Civitatis, a leading tours and activities platform serving over one million travelers per month. His voyage on New Shepard offers a new vantage point from which to appreciate the world he has spent a lifetime exploring.

• Jim Hendren
  Jim Hendren is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former F-15 fighter pilot, and past Commander of the 157th Combat Operations Squadron, with multiple overseas combat deployments. Additionally, Jim is the founder of Hendren Plastics Inc., a global manufacturing company. A Master Electrician, General Contractor, FAA-licensed airline pilot, and dedicated public servant, he spent 15 years on the Gravette School Board and served in both chambers of the Arkansas Legislature, including as Senate President Pro Tempore. A father of four and grandfather of twelve, Jim views his New Shepard flight as a natural extension of his lifelong passion for aviation, exploration, and service.

• Andrew Yaffe
  Andrew Yaffe was born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and has spent his life in the recycling industry, driven by a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. His interest in space began early, sparked by Star Trek, and grew into a deep fascination with human spaceflight, planetary exploration, and astronomy. A passionate traveler who enjoys experiencing different cultures and studying ancient history, Andrew is excited to fly to space as it'll be a continuation of his lifelong curiosity about humanity's place in the universe and our shared responsibility to care for Earth.

posted 01-20-2026 11:44 AM               

New Shepard Mission NS-38 Update

Blue Origin today announced that one of our NS-38 crew members is no longer able to fly due to illness and will fly on a future mission. The new sixth crew member joining the mission will be Dr. Laura Stiles, Blue Origin’s Director of New Shepard Launch Operations. Laura joins the previously announced crew, which includes Tim Drexler, Dr. Linda Edwards, Alain Fernandez, Alberto Gutiérrez, and Jim Hendren.

Laura received a B.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in Aerospace Engineering Sciences in the Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation focus area. Never far from Laura is her beloved dog, Percy, a fixture at Blue Origin during her tenure.

Outside of work, Laura has participated extensively in mentoring and coaching university-level and early-career engineers. She is an avid adventurer and outdoor enthusiast in her free time;hiking, paddling, and competing in triathlons. Laura is also a skydiving instructor and holds 2 World Records in large-formation skydiving. She recently began her journey toward becoming a fixed-wing pilot.

She joined Blue Origin in 2013 where she has worked in mechanical systems design, integrated vehicle test, launch operations, and astronaut training. She had filled multiple New Shepard launch crew roles, including serving as a Flight Controller, CapCom, and CrewMember 7. She is currently the Director for the New Shepard Launch Operations and Training organization.

posted 01-22-2026 10:59 AM               

Blue Origin’s 38th New Shepard flight and 17th crewed mission lifted off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Thursday, Jan. 22.

posted 01-22-2026 11:19 AM               

Blue Origin Completes 38th New Shepard
Flight to Space

Today (Jan. 22), Blue Origin successfully completed the 38th flight for the New Shepard program and first of 2026. The crew included: Tim Drexler, Dr. Linda Edwards, Alain Fernandez, Alberto Gutiérrez, Jim Hendren, and Dr. Laura Stiles. New Shepard has now flown 98 humans (92 individuals) into space.

"As we enter 2026, we're focused on continuing to deliver transformational experiences for our customers through the proven capability and reliability of New Shepard," said Phil Joyce, SVP, New Shepard. "We are grateful for our astronaut customers who put their trust in our team to bring this experience into reality."

New Shepard is foundational in enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. As our first operational human spaceflight system, it enables us to develop and validate the core reusable technologies, operational procedures, and safety systems that support all Blue Origin programs. Every flight makes space more accessible while building the manufacturing expertise, operational cadence, and proven capabilities in support of our mission to build a road to space.

Key stats from the NS-38 mission:

• The crew capsule reached an apogee of 346,722 ft AGL / 350,369 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).

• The booster reached an apogee of 346,327 ft AGL / 349,974 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).

• Official launch time was 10:25:35 AM CST / 16:25:35 UTC

• Capsule landing occurred at 10:35:47 AM CST / 16:35:47 UTC

• The mission elapsed time was 10 min 12 sec.