Blue Origin is gearing up for its next launch, New Shepard flight NS-29, which will focus on advancing technologies essential for future lunar missions. This upcoming launch is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, at 10:00 AM CST (1600 UTC) from Launch Site One in West Texas. Viewers can tune in to a live webcast beginning 15 minutes before launch.
Extending Lunar Gravity Simulation
A highlight of this mission is a groundbreaking initiative to simulate the Moon’s gravity for over two minutes—unprecedented in commercial spaceflight. Through the Reaction Control System (RCS), the New Shepard crew capsule will spin at around 11 revolutions per minute, generating an environment one-sixth the gravity of Earth. Supported in part by NASA, this capability provides a significantly longer duration of reduced gravity compared to traditional methods, which typically last just a few seconds.
Advancing Lunar Technologies
NS-29’s 30 payloads—29 inside the crew capsule and 1 mounted on the booster—address six core areas of lunar research:
- In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)
- Dust Mitigation
- Advanced Habitation Systems
- Sensors and Instrumentation
- Small Spacecraft Technologies
- Entry, Descent, and Landing
Several experiments come from Honeybee Robotics, a division of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems, focusing on methods for digging into, drilling, and processing lunar soil. Over half of the payloads receive support from NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, underscoring the mission’s potential impact on Artemis goals and broader Moon exploration plans.
Expanding New Shepard’s Fleet and Capabilities
The mission marks the 29th flight for New Shepard and brings the total commercial payload count above 175. It will utilize the recently-introduced booster, demonstrating its compatibility with different capsules in Blue Origin’s growing fleet, which now includes three capsules and two boosters. This flexibility increases launch availability, benefiting both technology demonstration and human-tended missions.
Inspiring the Next Generation
As part of Blue Origin’s ongoing commitment to education and outreach, thousands of postcards from students will also be on board, contributed via the company’s nonprofit, Club for the Future. Since 2019, this STEAM-focused organization has connected with over 44 million people worldwide, motivating the next wave of scientists, engineers, artists, and explorers.
