Blue Origin Aims To Launch New Shepard Rocket As Soon As December 18

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is aiming to return its suborbital New Shepard rocket to flight as soon as December 18, after a more than 15-month hiatus due to a mid-launch failure during a cargo mission in September 2022.

The company has been conducting rigorous testing and inspections of the New Shepard rocket and its systems in preparation for the upcoming flight. The mission, which will be called NS-24, will carry 33 science and research payloads to the edge of space, as well as a small number of commercial customers.

"We're excited to return to flight with New Shepard and continue to push the boundaries of human spaceflight," said Jeff Bezos, CEO of Blue Origin. "We're also committed to using our technology to advance STEM education and inspire the next generation of explorers."

The successful completion of the NS-24 mission would be a significant milestone for Blue Origin, as it would mark the return of the company's suborbital human spaceflight program. The mission would also be the first for New Shepard since the company announced plans to develop a larger, reusable orbital rocket called New Glenn.

New Shepard is a fully reusable suborbital rocket and capsule designed to take passengers on brief space tourism trips. The vehicle has flown 22 successful missions since its first test flight in 2015.

The mission's payloads will include experiments from a variety of organizations, including NASA, universities, and private companies. The experiments will focus on a variety of scientific disciplines, including microgravity research, materials science, and biological research.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to fly these important scientific payloads to the edge of space," said Rob Meyerson, President and CEO of Blue Origin. "These experiments will help us gain new insights into a variety of scientific fields, and we're excited to contribute to the advancement of knowledge."

The NS-24 mission is scheduled to launch from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in West Texas. The mission will be webcast live on Blue Origin's website.