Blue Origin's NS-36 Mission Launches With Anonymous Passenger

On a typical Wednesday morning, a peculiar event unfolded in West Texas. The NS-36 mission, Blue Origin's 15th crewed mission, launched at 9:40 a. m. ET from Launch Site One. This mission was initially scheduled for 9 a. m. ET, but experienced a delay, first to 9:30 a. m. ET, with no explanation provided for the postponement.

The NS-36 mission carried six space explorers, including a mysterious sixth rider who remained anonymous until after the flight. Blue Origin's press release only referred to this individual as "an undisclosed sixth crew member who asked to remain anonymous until after the flight." The six individuals boarded the R. S. S. First Step spacecraft, where they experienced zero gravity for a couple of minutes after stage separation, before returning to Earth via three deployed parachutes.

Their journey took them beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized edge of space, at 62 miles → 100 kilometers above Earth's surface. The New Shepard, much like SpaceX rockets, is designed for autonomous landing. The booster successfully touched down on a landing pad, having reached speeds of approximately 2,200 mph → 3,541 kph before stage separation.

TEXAS — The mysterious sixth rider was revealed as the half dozen space explorers were launched on Blue Origin's New Shepard launch on Wednesday ...

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