Published April 15, 2025
By : Staff Writer
Blue Origin's NS-31 launched from Launch Site One in West Texas on April 14. The mission marks the 11th human flight for the New Shepard program, which has now flown more than 50 people above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
Blue Origin reported that the Crew Capsule reached an apogee of 346,802 feet above ground level (AGL) / 350,449 feet mean sea level (MSL) (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).
The booster achieved an apogee of 346,481 feet AGL / 350,128 feet MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL). The official launch occurred at 8:30 AM CDT / 1:30 PM UTC, and the capsule landed at 8:40:21 AM CDT / 1:40:21 PM UTC, with the mission lasting 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space.
The NS-31 mission had a crew of six, including Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who played a key role in bringing the mission together.
Blue Origin also released the NS-31 mission patch, featuring several key symbols.
The target star represents Aisha Bowe's ambition for setting big goals and her commitment to inspiring future generations in STEM.
The scales of justice symbolize Amanda Nguyễn's advocacy for civil rights and empowering people to create change.
The shooting star microphone reflects Gayle King's dedication to sharing important stories, while the firework symbolizes Katy Perry's global influence in music, pop culture, and philanthropy.
Additionally, the film reel represents Kerianne Flynn's passion for filmmaking and storytelling.
Flynn the Fly, the main character from Lauren Sánchez's bestselling children's book The Fly Who Flew to Space, joins the mission. This story focuses on overcoming adversity and encourages kids with learning differences to pursue their dreams.
Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist and global STEM advocate, carried postcards from students worldwide and conducted three research experiments, including studies on plant biology and human physiology, to advance her mission of exploring space for the benefit of Earth.
Amanda Nguyễn, a bioastronautics research scientist, aimed to highlight science as a tool for peace.
Television show host Gayle King was excited to leave her comfort zone. At the same time, Katy Perry uses her voice to advocate for children's rights through her Firework Foundation, which empowers underserved children through the arts.
Kerianne Flynn has always been passionate about exploration, and she hopes her flight with Blue Origin will inspire her son, Dex, and the next generation of dreamers to reach for the stars.
Lauren Sánchez, a licensed helicopter pilot and vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, is also the founder of the first female-owned and operated aerial film and production company.
Her accomplishments in aviation earned her the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award in 2024. Sánchez aims to inspire future explorers.
The rocket carried the crew past the Kármán line—62 miles above Earth—allowing them to experience a few minutes of weightlessness before safely returning to Earth in a capsule that descended using three parachutes.
We just completed our 11th human spaceflight and the 31st flight of the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
New Shepard has flown 58 people to space. Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Qglt1p1Wc2
