Blue Origin launches New Shepard NS-37 mission

TEXAS — Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company, will launch New Shepard mission 37, or NS-37, on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The mission is set to launch at 10 a.m. CDT and will send six new astronauts into space.

Blue Origin has also released the mission patch, which includes a nod to each of the travelers. 

According to the Blue Origin website, a few of the symbols embedded include:

• The DNA symbolizes the importance and impact of science to Neal Milch. 
• The hippo represents Michaela (Michi) Benthaus’ favorite animal. Her plush hippo, which comforted her in the hospital after an accident, will join her in space. The tennis ball symbolizes another of Michi’s competitive passions. 
• A baobab tree, iconic to South Africa, represents Adonis Pouroulis’ roots. 
• A spiral galaxy symbolizes Joey Hyde’s astrophysics research. 
• A dog-bone shape, stars in the crew capsule windows represent the number 201 and “K” are in memoriam of Jason Stansell’s brother. 
• The shards represent Blue Origin’s commitment to breaking down the barriers to accessing space, including cost, nationality and ability.  

Mission NS-37 will mark the first manned mission since Oct 8. 

The New Shepard spacecraft, named for pioneering Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard who was the first American in space, is a fully reusable, suborbital rocket system that takes passengers on an 11-minute journey to the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.