VAN HORN, TEXAS - JULY 20:  The New Shepard Blue Origin rocket lifts-off from the launch pad carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, and 82-year-old Wally Funk prepare to launch on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas. Mr. Bezos and the crew are riding in the first human spaceflight for the company.   (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

VAN HORN, TEXAS - JULY 20: The New Shepard Blue Origin rocket lifts-off from the launch pad carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, and 82-year-old Wally Funk prepare to launch on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas. Mr. Bezos and the crew are riding in the first human spaceflight for the company. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Photo by: Joe Raedle

Joe Raedle

Blue Origin's First Crewed Spaceflight Has Successful Liftoff and Landing

By: Discovery

This morning, on July 20, 2021, Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight was a success! Congrats to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and three crewmates, who lifted off into space from Blue Origin’s Launch Site near Van Horn, Texas. Here's the play-by-play of the New Shepard's approximitely 10 minute flight from launch to capsule landing, which looked picture perfect.

July 20, 2021

After years of meticulous planning, Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight took off from a site in West Texas on Tuesday morning. This crew, included Blue Origin founder and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Jeff's brother Mark Bezos, pioneering female pilot Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk, and college student Oliver Daemon. With this successful spaceflight, Funk (82) is now the oldest person to have flown in space and Daemon (18) the youngest.

VAN HORN, TEXAS - JULY 20: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY â MANDATORY CREDIT - "BLUE ORIGIN / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, and 82-year-old Wally Funk leave Blue Originâs New Shepard crew capsule after landing on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas. Mr. Bezos and the crew rode in the first human spaceflight for the company. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

VAN HORN, TEXAS - JULY 20: Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, and 82-year-old Wally Funk leave Blue Originâs New Shepard crew capsule after landing on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas. Mr. Bezos and the crew rode in the first human spaceflight for the company.

Photo by: Anadolu Agency

Anadolu Agency

Congrats to Blue Origin and Jeff Bezos on this huge feat for commerical space flight. Today marks the first time in history that a commercial company launched a privately funded and built spacecraft from a private launch range with astronauts on board. This milestone helps inspire the next generation and open the doors of future space exploration for scientists, researchers, and everyday people who dream of traveling to space but aren't your traditional astronauts.

Here's how the events played out from launch to capsule landing.


Photos of Blue Origin's Journey to Space

Want more on the Blue Origin launch mission? At 10P ET tonight, Discovery will air a 1 hour special, JEFF BEZOS IN SPACE: BLUE ORIGIN TAKES FLIGHT, highlighting the morning’s event, along with interviews from after the launch, behind-the-scenes material, and background stories of Blue Origins and Jeff Bezos.

Follow Discovery on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for the latest updates and join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #SpaceLaunchLive.

Next Up

What You Need to Know About Blue Origin’s Launch into Space with Billionaire Jeff Bezos

The countdown has begun for Blue Origin’s first crewed spaceflight. On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 9:00A ET, Jeff Bezos and three crewmates are lifting off into space from Blue Origin’s Launch Site near Van Horn, Texas. Watch SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: BLUE ORIGIN & JEFF BEZOS GO TO SPACE on Discovery and Science Channels at 8:00A ET or at washingtonpost.com.

Liftoff of NASA and SpaceX Crew-2!

The NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 mission launched on Friday, April 23 at 5:49A ET from the NASA Launch Complex 39A. This historic milestone marks the second operational mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Onboard was NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. After a 23-hour journey, Crew-2 successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on April 24 at 5:08A ET. Here's everything that happened from launch day to the Crew-2's arrival at the ISS. (Updated April 24, 2021)

Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic Successfully Travels to Space

On Sunday, July 11, around 11:30A ET, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, soared to the edge of space as a passenger aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity. The space plane then landed safely at Spaceport America in New Mexico, making Branson's space tourism dream come true.

Countdown to Launch: NASA and SpaceX Crew-2 Mission

Liftoff set for Friday, April 23, at 5:49A EDT marks the second operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. Four space explorers are heading to the International Space Station for a six-month stay. It will take them 23 hours to reach their destination.

What to Know About NASA’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2

The second uncrewed test flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner has been delayed.

William Shatner is going where no 90-year-old has gone before

The Star Trek star will become the oldest person to go to space when he launches aboard a Blue Origin rocket on Wednesday, October 13. Watch live coverage on Space Launch LIVE: Shatner in Space on Discovery and Science Channel starting at 8:30A ET with liftoff scheduled for 10A ET.

Inspiration4: Successful Liftoff and Splashdown for the First Civilian Mission to Space

SpaceX launched four private citizens to space on Wednesday, September 15, at 8:02PM ET. Following their three-day trip around the Earth, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully splashed down off the coast of Florida Saturday evening. There were no professional astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Let’s learn more about Inspiration4's journey. Updated Monday, September 20.

The James Webb Space Telescope Launches!

Finally! It was initially proposed way back in 1998 and named the James Webb Space Telescope in 2002. After a decade of delays and over 10 billion dollars past its original budget, NASA’s next great observatory finally launched from the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Centre in South America.

SNL’s Pete Davidson No Longer Flying to Space on Blue Origin’s 4th Human Flight

Along with 5 paying customers, it was announced that Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson was joining the crew Blue Origin’s NS-20 Mission on Wednesday, March 23rd. As of last night, Blue Origin announced the date of the flight has moved to Tuesday March 29 and "Pete Davidson is no longer able to join the NS-20 crew on this mission."(This article was updated March 18)

SpaceX Crew-3 Launch for NASA to Blast Off Wednesday

After the NASA/SpaceX launch experienced a series of delays, Crew-3 is set to lift off no earlier than 9:03 P ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center tomorrow!Watch SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-3 LIFT OFF on Science Channel at 8 P ET Wednesday, November 10.

Related To: