New Shepard flew again for the seventh time today from Blue Origin’s West Texas Launch Site. Known as Mission 7 (M7), the mission featured the next-generation booster and the first flight of Crew Capsule 2.0. Watch the mission highlights here. -Gradatim Ferociter![image here]Crew Capsule 2.0 features large windows, measuring 2.4 feet wide, 3.6 feet tall.
Capsule apogee is a few km less than on some previous flights, though given the payloads - and windows - I imagine somewhat heavier than previous flights. Or have Blue used ballast previously?I wonder how much margin they have to push things further. It seems to be a long hold down after ignition and a notable hover before landing.I assume they want to break 100 km with a full complement of passengers. Especially if that's better than SpaceShipTwo can manage ...
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/13/2017 10:33 amCapsule apogee is a few km less than on some previous flights, though given the payloads - and windows - I imagine somewhat heavier than previous flights. Or have Blue used ballast previously?I wonder how much margin they have to push things further. It seems to be a long hold down after ignition and a notable hover before landing.I assume they want to break 100 km with a full complement of passengers. Especially if that's better than SpaceShipTwo can manage ...I'm not sure that both companies will want to break the 100km barrier. It seems to me that they're comfortable with the 80km boundary used in the USA.
Which would restrict bragging rights of their customers to the USA
Great to see New Sheppard back in action. Previous flights have had turn-around times as short as 6 weeks. I wonder how quickly this new improved system will be reflown.
NanoRacks Integrates Largest New Shepard Payload Manifest to DateSuborbitalDecember 13, 2017 //Van Horn, Texas – December 8, 2017 – NanoRacks is pleased to have taken part in yet another successful Blue Origin New Shepard space vehicle mission. This morning marked New Shepard’s 7th flight, and the third flight in which NanoRacks has managed customer payload integration.As a part of the NanoRacks teaming agreement with Blue Origin, the Company partakes in both business development and payload integration. Payload integration begins with customer service through the NanoRacks Mission Management team, and ends with final on-site integration with the customer at Blue Origin’s West Texas Launch Site (WTLS). Payloads range from small student NanoLabs flying in the NanoRacks Feather Frame to larger professional-grade payload lockers.“It is exhilarating to be a part of the NanoRacks payload program, providing all types of researchers a unique microgravity opportunity,” says NanoRacks Payload Engineer Mariel Rico. Experiments that long for both a cost effective and quick turnaround for technology demonstration in a microgravity environment finally have a place to call their own. It is truly a privilege to work with both our friends at Blue Origin and our incredible team at NanoRacks, to make this opportunity possible.”NanoRacks looks forward to growing the Company’s payload capacity on New Shepard, and is currently manufacturing a second Feather Frame for flight, doubling the total payload volume available for smaller educational customers.“Educator interest in engaging their students with hands on space research has brought us to developing a second Feather Frame,” continues Rico. “This is just one more step in the growing in-space services that NanoRacks is able to offer, and of course, suborbital flights with Blue Origin offer the perfect testbed before committing to an International Space Station microgravity mission.”To book a spot for your research on a Blue Origin flight, contact NanoRacks at [email protected].
Just watched the YT video that BO emailed me. "The largest windows on a spacecraft to date". Yet they can't put a camera in the 2.0 capsule???
How do they compare to the ISS Cupola ?
Quote from: LaunchedIn68 on 12/13/2017 02:03 pmJust watched the YT video that BO emailed me. "The largest windows on a spacecraft to date". Yet they can't put a camera in the 2.0 capsule??? How do they compare to the ISS Cupola ?