# Blue Origin launching people into space in July **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485 "2021-05-05T21:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/1 "2021-05-05T21:51:05Z")
> **[Jeff Bezos sets date for space sightseeing flight](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57000820)** > > The Amazon.com founder will launch people into space on his New Shepard vehicle on 20 July. This is a sub-orbital flight which will be offered to tourists, although this first one might have Bezos himself riding on it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/2 "2021-05-05T21:54:37Z")
Which people? Can we vote on who gets launched into space? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/3 "2021-05-05T21:56:57Z")
The article says: > The astronauts are likely to include company personnel, but one seat is being auctioned online. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/4 "2021-05-08T17:09:00Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > although this first one might have Bezos himself riding on it. Almost certainly he’ll be on it. You don’t spend billions on this kind of thing just to let everyone else have all the fun. I understand Branson is going to be on the first flight of his rocket with paying customers. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/5 "2021-05-08T18:16:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Can we vote on who gets launched into space? I volunteer Elon Musk. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/6 "2021-05-08T18:34:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Which people? Can we vote on who gets launched into space? You do realize that whoever it is, they’re just going to come back in about 15 minutes? > [@Limmin](#): > > I volunteer Elon Musk. Elon Musk has his own spaceships. Which (so far) are _far_ more advanced than Jeff Bezos’ spaceships; people who have gone into space using Elon Musk’s spaceships have stayed up there for months, not minutes. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/7 "2021-05-08T20:04:57Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > You do realize that whoever it is, they’re just going to come back in about 15 minutes? Okay then, nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/8 "2021-05-08T22:32:22Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Elon Musk has his own spaceships. Not only that, they’re orbit-capable. The flight is longer, yes, but the re-entry is likely to be a lot less painful from the trajectory. Hence the joke nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/9 "2021-06-07T12:28:42Z")
Yup, Jeff is going up. And he’s bringing his brother up with him for the ride. > **[Jeff Bezos and brother to fly to space in Blue Origin flight](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-57386049)** > > The Amazon founder will take the first human flight launched by his space company, Blue Origin. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/10 "2021-06-07T14:04:17Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Yup, Jeff is going up. Now we know why Jeff appointed a new CEO for Amazon… Just in case he doesn’t make it back. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/11 "2021-06-07T19:18:48Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Yup, Jeff is going up. And he’s bringing his brother up with him for the ride. As I said upthread, I was fairly certain he was going on that ride.[\*] I figured his wife would go too, but, well, divorce… . [\*] New Shepard is going to be the world’s most expensive amusement park ride. OK, a ride in search of an amusement park. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/12 "2021-06-07T22:42:04Z")
What is with these super-rich white guys and outer space? You guys have a job: it’s called Fix Your Companies! Hey, Elon, you need to make better cars. They’re too expensive, there are quality control issues, oh, and idiots DWA (Driving While Asleep) are killing people. And Jeff? Your workers are trying to make a living wage… by peeing in bottles and pooping in bags? “Sorry, no time to fix things, gotta play astronaut!” ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/13 "2021-06-08T10:51:02Z")
It’s because, finally, the geeks are taking over the world. It was only a matter of time time and I for one welcome our bespectacled overlords. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/14 "2021-06-12T22:52:43Z")
The winning bid for this seat is $28M. They haven’t released the name of the winner yet. Also, a 4th person, in addition to the auction winner and the Bezos brothers, will be on the trip. They haven’t said who that person will be. > **[Blue Origin auctions seat on first spaceflight with Jeff Bezos for $28 million](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/12/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-auctions-spaceflight-seat-for-28-million.html)** > > The winning bidder will fly to the edge of space with the Amazon founder on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket scheduled to launch on July 20. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/15 "2021-06-12T23:26:41Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > It’s because… That username is a bit judgemental to start a thread like this. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/16 "2021-06-12T23:41:03Z")
Bezos may have a zillion dollars, but – short of buying Luxembourg – he’s really setting the bar pretty high for future family birthday gifts. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/17 "2021-06-13T00:06:04Z")
I have a friend from college who works for Blue Origin; I tried asking him if he’s got plans for July but he was mysteriously silent. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/18 "2021-06-13T22:25:08Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Yup, Jeff is going up. And he’s bringing his brother up with him for the ride. It’s because his Mother always liked brother best. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/19 "2021-07-01T22:55:55Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Also, a 4th person, in addition to the auction winner and the Bezos brothers, will be on the trip. They haven’t said who that person will be. Latest word is that the fourth person is > **[Wally Funk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Funk)** > > Mary Wallace Funk (born February 1, 1939) is an American aviator, commercial astronaut, and Goodwill Ambassador. She was the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, the first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the first female Federal Aviation Agency inspector, as well as one of the Mercury 13. > Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021, at age 82, flying on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft during its ... ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485/20 "2021-07-15T17:34:25Z")
Yes, Wally Funk is confirmed. The other passenger is [Oliver Daemen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Origin_NS-16), an 18-year old Dutch kid. I wanted to know more about the New Shepard vehicle and its flight profile. There are, as always, [wikipedia articles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Shepard) with some of the details to aid in the flight visualization, such as - Engine: LOX + H2, burns for 110 s - At MECO, the rocket is at 40 km altitude. It will coast all the way up to 100 km, about double the max. altitude of Branson’s recent flight. - Total time of flight will be about 10 minutes. - I wonder…what the peak g-loads will be during re-entry. For [Mercury-Redstone 3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_3), Astronaut Alan Shepard endured a peak of 11.6 g’s! I’m sure the designers of New Shepard worried about the suborbital g-loading during re-entry, and must have found a way to mitigate them. I just don’t know what that number is. Anyone? While the uncrewed version of the rocket can do propulsive landing, similar to the Falcon 9, for this first-ever crewed flight, the crew capsule separates and uses a parachute to return gently to Earth, Soyuz-style, while the booster does the propulsive landing bit. It would be interesting to see who will be the brave volunteer to crew the first ever propulsive landing of a rocket. We gotta do this if we ever want boots on Mars. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-origin-launching-people-into-space-in-july/941485.md?page=2)