Blue Origin's New Shepard Rocket
On April 2, 2016, the private spaceflight company Blue Origin launched its reusable New Shepard rocket and Crew Capsule for the third time and successfully landed them back on Earth. See photos from the test flight here. Read our full story.
Blue Origin New Shepard Vehicle Ascent
Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle ascends from its West Texas test site to reach an apogee of 339,138 feet (103 km) on April 2, 2016. Read our full story.
Blue Origin's BE-3 Engine Restart
Blue Origin's BE-3 engine restarted at 3,635 feet (1.1 km) above ground level and landed successfully at its West Texas launch site on April 2, 2016. Read our full story.
Blue Origin New Shepard Landing
Blue Origin claims precise thrust vector control and deep throttling enabled pinpoint booster landing of the New Shepard vehicle at its West Texas launch site on April 2, 2016. Read our full story.
Recovery of Blue Origin Crew Capsule
Blue Origin team members recover the crew capsule after its fifth successful flight and soft landing at its West Texas launch site on April 2, 2016. Read our full story.
Blue Origin Touchdown
The view of the Earth from 339,178 feet (103 km), captured by a camera on the New Shepard crew capsule during Saturday's (April 2) test flight. Read our full story.
New Shepard Earth View
The view of the Earth from 339,178 feet (103 km), captured by a camera on the New Shepard crew capsule during Saturday's (April 2) test flight. Read our full story.
New Shepard Rocket Landing
The New Shepard reusable rocket uses its thrusters to lower itself back to Earth. By landing vertically, the booster's structural integrity is maintained, and it can be reused.. Read our full story.
Inside the Crew Capsule
Blue Origin engineers ready the Crew Capsule for launch ahead of New Shepard's third unmanned flight test from West Texas on April 2, 2016 Read our full story.
Jeff Bezos' Lucky Boots
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos tweeted a photo of Gradatim Ferociter boots that he wore to the April 2 test launch, which he says brought him luck. They were a gift from a friend. Read our full story.
Turtles On the Door
The reusable Crew Capsule on Blue Origin's New Shepard has tortoise emblems for each of its successful test flights. Read our full story.
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