Blue Origin’s first New Shepard flight carrying people was NS-16, launched on July 20, 2021, from Launch Site One in West Texas. Four passengers flew: Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen. Blue Origin called it the program’s first human flight; “first passenger flight” is a common shorthand for the same mission.
Who flew on Blue Origin’s first human flight?
The Federal Aviation Administration’s NS-16 recognition list records all four passengers for the July 20, 2021 mission: Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen. Blue Origin described them as private citizens flying aboard New Shepard.
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- Jeff Bezos founded Amazon and Blue Origin.
- Mark Bezos is Jeff Bezos’s brother.
- Wally Funk was an aviation pioneer who had trained as an astronaut candidate decades earlier.
- Oliver Daemen was a student and, according to Blue Origin, the company’s first paying customer to fly on New Shepard.
Blue Origin’s mission report called the flight a “monumental day for Blue Origin and human spaceflight,” quoting CEO Bob Smith. That was the company’s reaction to the event, not an independent safety assessment.
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NS-16 launched on July 20, 2021, from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. It was the 16th New Shepard flight and the first to carry people, according to the company’s contemporaneous mission report. The FAA’s recognition list likewise identifies the mission, vehicle, launch site and date.
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Before launch, Blue Origin announced a target liftoff of 8:00 a.m. CDT (13:00 UTC). That was the planned time, not a confirmed actual liftoff time. The company also said Launch Site One was a remote location without public viewing areas on site.
What records did the passengers set?
Blue Origin said at the time that Wally Funk, aged 82, became the oldest person to fly in space and Oliver Daemen, aged 18, became the youngest. These are the company’s descriptions of the records associated with NS-16 in 2021, not claims that either distinction remains current indefinitely. Blue Origin’s flight report and customer announcement give those ages and milestones.
Why did Oliver Daemen fly instead of the auction winner?
Blue Origin had announced that the winner of its auction for a seat on the first crewed New Shepard flight would join the mission. The anonymous winner deferred to a later flight because of scheduling conflicts, the company said. Daemen then took the seat and became New Shepard’s first paying customer, according to Blue Origin’s announcement.
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- WE IGNITE IMAGINATIONS: Since 1958, Estes has created educational rocket kits and displays designed for an unforgettable aerospace experience. As a family-owned company, we have grown to offer exciting STEM products that engage aspiring rocketeers and the future minds of aerospace.
Why was NS-16 a commercial milestone for Blue Origin?
Blue Origin characterized NS-16 as a major commercial milestone and said the flight marked the beginning of commercial operations for its New Shepard program. The distinction matters: this describes the company’s own program milestone, not a claim that NS-16 was the first private spaceflight in history. New Shepard had flown 15 times before NS-16, but this was its first flight with people aboard.
Where can you watch the mission or find a commemorative patch?
Blue Origin’s mission report includes the official flight replay and pointed readers to the company shop for a commemorative patch. The 2021 report does not establish that the patch is still available, or that it is sold through any particular retailer.
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