Once ? Impressive . Twice ? Pretty good . Three multiplication ? Now you ’re talking .
On Saturday , April 2 , Blue Origin successfully launched its reclaimable New Shepard fomite on a abbreviated jaunt to blank space for the third clip from its launching site in West Texas , carry on to showcase the viability of its reusable rocket engine applied science .
This launch saw the rocket fly straight up to a height of 103.8 kilometers ( 64.5 miles ) , experiencing a couple of minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth . It is the same rocket as used on the former two flying , this being the highest launch so far .
The unmanned skyrocket ’s capsule furcate to set ashore under parachutes , while the rocket performed a powered landing , almost identical to the companionship ’s previous two flights . A primal deviation this time around though was the timing of the railway locomotive restart .
Here you may see the rocket salad ’s impressively quick return to Earth . Blue Origin
The propulsive landing started just 1,100 meters ( 3,600 foot ) above the soil , with CEO Jeff Bezostweetingthere would have been an “ impact in 6 sec if locomotive engine does n’t restart & ramp tight . ” Of course , this was entirely plan , and was merely intended to show the increased potentiality of the impressive BE-3 booster .
Blue Origin is screw for its concealment , but its late chain of rocket successes seems to have seen the party become much more open . Just last calendar month , Bezos gave journalists atour of the company ’s facilities , a privilege not afforded before . And prior to this latest launch attempt , he pinch legion detail about the upcoming flight . Other flight have all been conducted under wraps .
While the previous two launches were accompanied with fashionable videos , Blue Origin really stepped it up a pass this metre around . Drone television camera were used to capture stunning footage of the rocket returning to the earth , while on - panel cameras enchant the rocket’s - middle view . Check out the video below .
This in style trajectory was also more than just a run of the technology . It sway with it two experimentation from universities , one to measure the effect of microgravity onsmall rocksand the other to see howcollisions occurin microgravity . Blue Origin has made no secret of its desire to privatize space travel , and pilot experiments ( and ultimately people ) is a footstep in that focussing .
Blue Origin is often said to be a direct competition to SpaceX , but while the two caller have standardised conclusion goals , they are at different stages at the second . However , Blue Origin has its hatful on finally launch orbital rockets like Elon Musk ’s company , and they are even planning to begin manned flights next twelvemonth – the same year SpaceX skip to do so .
What ’s clear is that the commercialization of distance is well and trulysteaming ahead . This latest launching reaffirms Blue Origin ’s commitment to individual spaceflight , and while the troupe is not yet ready to reveal the exact details of its upcoming plan , you may be indisputable you ’ll be hearing plenty more about their progress in the come years .
