Blue Origin, the spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos, successfully completed its 35th New Shepard mission, deploying a new free-flying camera that captured unique views of Earth. The footage, shared by Bezos on the social media platform X, drew a concise but positive response from rival space entrepreneur Elon Musk, who called the view "Epic."
The uncrewed NS-35 mission, which launched from West Texas, carried more than 40 scientific and research payloads into suborbital space. This flight marks another step for Blue Origin as it continues to compete in the growing commercial space sector, which is largely dominated by Musk's SpaceX.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Origin's 35th New Shepard mission (NS-35) was successfully launched on September 18.
- Jeff Bezos shared footage from a new free-flying camera, which Elon Musk praised as an "Epic view."
- The uncrewed flight carried over 40 research payloads, including 24 student experiments for NASA.
- The mission lasted just over 10 minutes, with both the rocket booster and capsule returning safely to Earth for reuse.
- The event highlights the ongoing competition and occasional public interaction between the leaders of Blue Origin and SpaceX.
New Camera Technology Showcased in Suborbital Flight
Following the successful mission, Jeff Bezos posted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, showcasing the capabilities of a new camera system. The footage provided an external view of the New Shepard capsule against the backdrop of Earth's curvature.
"What a view. From our new free flying camera — deployed on yesterday's New Shepard mission," Bezos wrote in his post. He also explained a visual distortion in the video, noting, "The 'bubble' is the seam between two 180 degree lenses."
"Epic view"
– Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, in response to Jeff Bezos' post.
The brief but notable interaction between the two billionaires, who lead the world's most prominent private spaceflight companies, captured public attention. While their companies are direct competitors, the exchange was a moment of mutual appreciation for the technical achievement.
Details of the NS-35 Research Mission
The NS-35 mission lifted off on September 18 from Blue Origin's launch facility in West Texas at 9:01 a.m. EDT. The launch proceeded after a delay of nearly four weeks, which the company attributed to issues with the booster's avionics that required resolution.
The flight was dedicated to scientific research and did not carry any passengers. Onboard were more than 40 payloads from various research institutions. A significant portion of the cargo was dedicated to educational outreach.
NS-35 Mission By The Numbers
- Total Payloads: Over 40
- Student Experiments: 24 (from NASA's TechRise Challenge)
- Peak Altitude: Above the Kármán Line (62 miles / 100 km)
- Booster Landing: ~7.5 minutes after launch
- Capsule Landing: ~10 minutes after launch
- Total Mission Duration: 10 minutes and 14 seconds
Supporting Student Research in Space
A key component of the mission was its support for STEM education. The capsule carried 24 experiments designed by middle and high school students as part of NASA's TechRise Student Challenge. This program gives students hands-on experience by allowing them to design, build, and fly their own experiments on suborbital rockets.
The successful flight of these student projects provides valuable data and inspires the next generation of scientists and engineers. With the completion of NS-35, Blue Origin reports that it has now flown more than 200 payloads on its New Shepard rocket platform.
Flight Profile and Vehicle Recovery
The reusable New Shepard rocket ascended past the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space located 62 miles (100 kilometers) above sea level. After reaching its peak altitude, the crew capsule separated from the booster.
The booster performed an autonomous vertical landing approximately seven and a half minutes into the mission. A few minutes later, the capsule descended under parachutes and landed safely in the Texas desert, concluding the mission in just over 10 minutes. The reusability of both the booster and capsule is central to Blue Origin's strategy to reduce the cost of access to space.
The Competitive Landscape of Commercial Space
The successful NS-35 mission provides Blue Origin with renewed momentum in its efforts to compete with SpaceX. While both companies are key players in the commercial space industry, their operational tempo and primary markets differ significantly.
Blue Origin vs. SpaceX
Blue Origin's New Shepard program focuses on suborbital space tourism and research flights. The company is also developing a much larger orbital rocket, New Glenn. In contrast, SpaceX's Falcon 9 is the current global leader in orbital launches, deploying satellites and flying astronauts for NASA. SpaceX's Starship is its next-generation vehicle designed for missions to the Moon and Mars.
SpaceX continues to maintain a high launch frequency with its Falcon rocket family and is actively developing its massive Starship vehicle in South Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved additional launches for the company, and Elon Musk has publicly projected that SpaceX's commercial revenue could exceed NASA's entire budget in the near future.
For its part, Blue Origin has been making strategic moves. In June, the company revealed a new vehicle concept designed for future missions to the Moon and Mars. It has also conducted high-profile crewed flights, including one all-female mission that featured Lauren Sánchez and pop star Katy Perry.
Government Support for US Space Industry
The growth of companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX is supported by a favorable regulatory environment in the United States. In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at simplifying the rules for commercial space launches and reentries.
The directive tasked the Department of Transportation and the FAA with reviewing and streamlining regulations. The stated goal was to remove "outdated, redundant, or overly restrictive rules" to bolster the competitiveness of American space companies on the global stage. This government-level support is crucial for fostering innovation and ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in the commercial space sector.