TheSkySearchers

From Ars Technica:
"Officials with the rocket company Blue Origin said they remain on track for their first human spaceflight on Tuesday, which will carry founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers on a suborbital hop 100 km above West Texas.

Steve Lanias, the lead flight director for the mission, said during a call with reporters that engineers completed a "Flight Readiness Review" for the launch over the weekend and found the New Shepard rocket and capsule to be in perfect condition. Weather, too, looks reasonable with any early morning storms expected to pass before the anticipated liftoff time of 8 am CT (13:00 UTC)."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07 ... rd-system/

smp

So around 7am my time (PDT) I guess. I certainly will be watching it and good luck to Bezos and the crew. It seems like there is a bit of an element of risk in flying in autonomous mode, but we'll see what happens.

I wish them all the best!!

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:59 pm So around 7am my time (PDT) I guess. I certainly will be watching it and good luck to Bezos and the crew. It seems like there is a bit of an element of risk in flying in autonomous mode, but we'll see what happens.

8am CDT is 6am PDT. Get up early so you don't miss it.

KathyNS wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:56 pm

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:59 pm So around 7am my time (PDT) I guess. I certainly will be watching it and good luck to Bezos and the crew. It seems like there is a bit of an element of risk in flying in autonomous mode, but we'll see what happens.

8am CDT is 6am PDT. Get up early so you don't miss it.

Thanks Kathy. I am usually an early riser so I won't miss it!

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:59 pm So around 7am my time (PDT) I guess. I certainly will be watching it and good luck to Bezos and the crew. It seems like there is a bit of an element of risk in flying in autonomous mode, but we'll see what happens.

Actually pretty simple compared to a self driving car. Astronauts have mostly been along for the ride during lift off anyway.

Soo, Jeff Bezos will actually make complete space flight ( not suborbital ) soon and become the first complete space tourist in the world. So keep monitoring this future event with Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin

Watching the livestream now. T-55 minutes and counting.

I'm watching the live stream now, at T-15 minutes and holding.

Hold lifted and they're go for launch.

Now T-5 minutes and counting.

Looks like a good launch!

Apogee at 107 Km.

Booster landed safely.

Capsule landed safely.

Congratulations to Blue Origin and their first human crew!

smp

Congratulations to the team! Admittedly I was a bit worried as the capsule descended at a relatively high speed. At impact it was traveling at 16mph, which I'm sure was a significant bump for the crew, nonetheless it was a successful (and safe) mission.

Great flight! Watching the booster land was amazing! Congrats to all!!

I understand the next flight may be as early as September!!

Dave

The only thing that bothers me is how Jeff Bezos prepared for this complete space flight. I do not think that he was trained like usual astronauts that are launched in space

bearnard00 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:38 pm The only thing that bothers me is how Jeff Bezos prepared for this complete space flight. I do not think that he was trained like usual astronauts that are launched in space

Well, 62 miles up for a total round trip of 11 minutes...

I certainly do congratulate him and his team, yet IMHO it's barely "space".

Ok fine now let's forbid all this space tourism nonsense because of the pollutants, especially Virgin Galactic but indirectly also Blue Origin because the power for their H2 still comes from fossil fuels.

And for those that missed it like me, here's a video:

Very cool booster landing!
Love the way parachute touch down also.

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:59 pm It seems like there is a bit of an element of risk in flying in autonomous mode, but we'll see what happens.

The Russians built, launched, flew, and landed a Space Shuttle completely autonomously back in the 1980's.
And that was after stealing the plans for OUR shuttle and "editing" it.

I'd feel much safer in the New Shepard...
If the Billionaire that paid for it trust it enough to take the first flight AND bring a family member along, they must have some serious faith in the technology.

AstroBee wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 9:24 pm

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:59 pm It seems like there is a bit of an element of risk in flying in autonomous mode, but we'll see what happens.

The Russians built, launched, flew, and landed a Space Shuttle completely autonomously back in the 1980's.
And that was after stealing the plans for OUR shuttle and "editing" it.

I'd feel much safer in the New Shepard...
If the Billionaire that paid for it trust it enough to take the first flight AND bring a family member along, they must have some serious faith in the technology.

Agreed on the last point Greg. I had a bit of a worry that something would happen and that it might impact Amazon's stock price, but Bezos already prepared for that by appointing a new CEO. Bezos can move on to the next phase of his career as a space CEO/astronaut now.

helicon wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 10:00 pm Agreed on the last point Greg. I had a bit of a worry that something would happen and that it might impact Amazon's stock price, but Bezos already prepared for that by appointing a new CEO. Bezos can move on to the next phase of his career as a space CEO/astronaut now.

Never been a fan of the guy but watched the post-flight press conference today and I'm a bit more impressed with him. In case you didn't know,now that he's "retired" he's starting a philanthropic organization with plans to give away $100millio/yr.
He started it today by giving away $100million ea to 2 people.
A far cry from the Dr. Evil image I've always had of the guy.

To say frankly, I am not a big fan of space tourism. I guess there is more important stuff to be made than launching tourists in space. Private space companies need to make new great technology for this something more than just earning money with the help of space tourism.