Blue Origin: what is it, its latest project (NS-31 mission) details, and more.
Blue Origin: Blue Origin is an American private aerospace company founded in September 2000, in Kent, Washington, USA by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Its mission is to make space travel more accessible and sustainable with the long-term goal of enabling millions of people to live and work in space. It is one of the leading companies in the new space race, along with SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. It is helping push the boundaries of what’s possible in commercial spaceflight, space tourism, and future space colonization.
What is the slogan of this company?
The slogan of Blue Origin is “Gradatim Ferociter,” which is Latin for “Step by Step, Ferociously.” It reflects the company’s philosophy of making steady, determined and progress toward space exploration.
Details on its latest project?
On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin launched its NS-31 mission, marking a historic milestone with the first all-female crew since 1963. The flight used the reusable New Shepard suborbital rocket, which took the crew beyond the Kármán line—62 miles (100 km) above Earth, the internationally recognized boundary of space. During the 11-minute journey, the crew experienced weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth. This was the 31st New Shepard flight and the 11th with a human crew. Designed for space tourism, New Shepard offers short trips to space, with refundable deposits around $150,000; auctioned seats have sold for millions. Blue Origin also invites special guests on board.
In January 2025, Blue Origin also successfully launched its New Glenn rocket—a massive, reusable rocket standing 320 feet tall and capable of carrying up to 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit. Aimed to fly at least 25 times per booster, it positions Blue Origin as a strong competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon 9. New Glenn will also support Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which aims to provide global internet service, competing with SpaceX’s Starlink. These developments highlight Blue Origin’s dual focus on space tourism and orbital missions.
Who all are involved in this project?
This mission marked the 11th crewed flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, which focused on space tourism. It was a historic mission as it featured an all-female crew after 1963. It consists of six members such as Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.
How did Katy Perry respond to this project?
Katy Perry is one of the six crew members of the blue origins NS-31 mission. She has always been interested in topics like astronomy stars and space. Which made her very excited for this project. She has said that this mission could be an important movement for future commercial space travel. She has got courage and fearlessness to do this mission for the girls who are watching her and especially for her daughter.
How long is this project?
The duration NS-31 flight was around 10-11 minutes. Whereas this project has been in development and operation for a very long period of time. The first test flight of a New Shepard vehicle was on April 29, 2015, the first crewed flight (NS-16) took place on July 20, 2021, and on April 15, 2025, the New Shepard program is ongoing, with NS-31 being the latest crewed mission (the 11th crewed flight and the 31st overall flight for the program.
What is the impact and future of Blue Origin and this project?
The NS-31 mission was particularly symbolic and impactful due to its all-female crew, marking a significant moment for inclusivity in spaceflight and celebrating the contributions of women from various fields. The future of Blue Origin and the New Shepard project appears promising with expectations of increased flight frequency as the company aims to make space tourism more regular and accessible. It cost remains a key challenge.
A major priority will be reducing suborbital flight costs through economies of scale, technological advancements, and operational efficiencies. The future missions may also feature more diverse participants, including citizen scientists, educators, and artists. Additionally, lessons and technologies developed through the New Shepard program are expected to contribute to other Blue Origin initiatives, such as the New Glenn orbital rocket and the Blue Moon lunar lander.
Whereas, the suborbital space tourism market grows more competitive with rivals like Virgin Galactic, this rivalry may drive further innovation in passenger experience, safety, and comfort. The New Shepard focuses on short-duration suborbital flights, it serves as a foundational step in Blue Origin’s broader vision of building a sustainable “road to space,” enabling greater use of space resources and supporting more people living and working in space in the future.
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