Blue Origin is primed to send its New Shepard rocket on its 29th mission, NS-29, carrying an unprecedented opportunity for extended lunar gravity simulations. Scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, at 10:00 AM CST (1600 UTC) from Launch Site One in West Texas, the launch will be streamed live, with coverage starting 15 minutes before liftoff.
Extended Lunar Gravity Simulation
One of the key innovations of NS-29 is its ability to simulate the Moon’s gravity environment for over two minutes. By spinning the crew capsule at approximately 11 revolutions per minute using its Reaction Control System (RCS), Blue Origin will replicate one-sixth Earth’s gravity—significantly longer than traditional methods like parabolic flights or centrifuge drop towers, which offer only seconds of partial gravity at a time.
A Focus on Lunar Technologies
Out of the 30 payloads aboard NS-29, 29 will be housed inside the crew capsule, while one will be mounted on the booster and exposed to space conditions. Nearly all are devoted to developing or demonstrating lunar-focused technologies across six categories:
- In-Situ Resource Utilization
- Dust Mitigation
- Advanced Habitation Systems
- Sensors and Instrumentation
- Small Spacecraft Technologies
- Entry, Descent, and Landing
Honeybee Robotics, part of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems division, is sending four experiments to test ways of penetrating, excavating, and processing lunar regolith. Over half of the payloads on this flight are supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, underscoring the significant partnership between commercial and government sectors in advancing Artemis objectives and other Moon exploration initiatives.
Expanding the New Shepard Fleet
With the addition of NS-29, Blue Origin has now flown more than 175 commercial payloads on New Shepard. This mission highlights the company’s newly debuted booster paired with a dedicated payloads capsule—underscoring the growing flexibility of a fleet that now includes three capsules and two boosters. By enhancing availability and turnaround times, Blue Origin aims to meet the rising demand for both scientific payloads and human spaceflight services.
Inspiring Future Generations
Continuing its tradition, Blue Origin will also fly thousands of postcards from students and educators through Club for the Future. This nonprofit promotes engagement in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), and has connected with over 44 million people worldwide since 2019. By integrating educational outreach with cutting-edge spaceflight capabilities, NS-29 is poised to both expand our understanding of lunar technologies and inspire a new generation of space enthusiasts.
