Blue Origin, the space tourism company founded by Jeff Bezos, is set to fly another mission as early as May 19, 2024. This will be the first Blue Origin space tourism mission since an engine failure in late 2021 that ended with the capsule's emergency escape system separating it from the rocket booster, which crashed. The NS-25 launch is scheduled for May 19, with a launch window opening at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC from Launch Site One in West Texas. Six passengers are aboard the New Shepard rocket-capsule combo, including retired US Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was the first Black astronaut candidate in 1961; Mason Angel, founder of Industrious Ventures and sponsor of Science Buddies for STEM education in early education; Sylvain Chiron, founder of Brasserie du Mont Blanc brewery and avid aerospace enthusiast from France; Ken Hess, founder of Science Buddies and former Family Tree Maker software creator; and Carol Schaller, who has traveled to 25 countries since being diagnosed with a condition that would eventually cause blindness. French entrepreneur Sylvain Chiron is also on board, excited to see the Earth from space and experience weightlessness. He is determined to become an inspiration for young people and follow his dreams despite the cost of the ticket. Only Sylvain Chiron has gone to space from France before this mission.
