Blue Origin successfully launched the “cargo” NS-17 mission

Blue Origin successfully launched the cargo mission code-named NS-17 earlier, but because the responsible New Shepard rocket did not have the ability to enter orbit, these cargoes actually reached the edge of space and enjoyed a gravity-free state for a few minutes. It fell back to the ground again, a little over 10 minutes in length. But even so, NS-17 is still equipped with research modules from 18 customers, plus NASA has also participated in an experiment-but NASA here is not using NS-17’s gravity-free state, but its landing The process to test LiDAR and related computing equipment for the subsequent lunar landing system.

At present, the Blue Origin manned and cargo spacecraft, connected to the booster rockets under them, are independent of each other. That is to say, the cargo bay and rocket are not used to carry people, but the ones that carry people. The group will also not come to load. In fact, this set of cargo bays and rockets used by the NS-17 are all lifted off for the eighth time, and they are considered veterans.

Blue Origin plans to conduct a second manned launch before the end of the year, but the fare has not yet been announced. Only Bezos said in a press conference after landing that it had sold “tickets worth US$100 million.” , And “demand is very, very high.” If Virgin Galactic’s ticket is estimated at about US$500,000 per ticket, this means that at least 200 people have confirmed the ride. It will take a long time for Blue Origin to digest these customers.