Blue Origin NS-18 facts for kids
| Mission type | Crewed sub-orbital spaceflight |
|---|---|
| Operator | Blue Origin |
| Mission duration | 10 minutes, 17 seconds |
| Apogee | 107 km (66 mi) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | RSS First Step |
| Manufacturer | Blue Origin |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 4 |
| Members |
|
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 13 October 2021, 14:49:51 UTC |
| Rocket | New Shepard (NS4) |
| Launch site | Corn Ranch, LS-1 |
| Contractor | Blue Origin |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 13 October 2021, 14:59 UTC |
| Landing site | Corn Ranch |
 Blue Origin NS-18 mission patch |
|
Blue Origin NS-18 was a special trip to the edge of space. It was run by a company called Blue Origin. This flight happened on October 13, 2021.
The mission used Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket system. This was the eighteenth flight for New Shepard. It was also the second time people flew on this rocket. Four people were on board for this exciting journey.
The Crew
The NS-18 mission had four people on board. They were:
- Audrey Powers, who works for Blue Origin.
- Chris Boshuizen, a former NASA engineer. He was the third person born in Australia to go to space.
- Glen de Vries, a business leader in health and science.
- William Shatner, a famous Canadian-American actor.
The flight took off from Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas. The rocket used was called NS4. The spacecraft was named RSS First Step. Both the rocket and spacecraft had flown before on other missions.
William Shatner's Space Record
At 90 years old, William Shatner became the oldest person to ever fly into space. He broke the record set just three months earlier by Wally Funk, who was 82. Blue Origin invited Shatner on the flight as a guest. This meant he did not have to pay for his trip.
The Overview Effect
While in space, William Shatner experienced something called the overview effect. This is a feeling many astronauts describe. It's a sense of wonder and awe when looking at Earth from space. They often feel a deep connection to our planet. Shatner talked about this feeling live on camera after his flight. He shared his thoughts with Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin.
