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RSS First Step
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>RSS <i>First Step</i> is the third <a href="/facts/New_Shepard/QpzbYepM">New Shepard</a> capsule built by <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin/CxFvEmDr">Blue Origin</a>, and the first designed to carry passengers. It flew to space for the first time on 14 January 2021, during the NS-14 spaceflight. NS-14 also served as the maiden flight of the NS4 propulsion module.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> The following flight, NS-15, which was also flown uncrewed by <i>First Step</i> and NS4, tested boarding and deboarding in what Blue Origin called an "astronaut operational exercise."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p><i>First Step</i> flew Blue Origin's <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-16/DLBJulKS">first crewed flight</a> on 20 July 2021, carrying founder <a href="/facts/Jeff_Bezos/VV9IzSa3">Jeff Bezos</a> and three other passengers to space.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> This made Texas the fourth state to launch humans into space,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> after Florida, California, and New Mexico. As of November 2022, it has flown five subsequent crewed spaceflights, carrying a total of 31 people into space, including one (Evan Dick) twice. </p><p>The New Shepard fleet was grounded from September 2022 until December 2023 due to a failure during the <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-23/Abq8W5Sj">NS-23</a> mission. The capsule used during the mission, RSS <i>H.G. Wells</i>, managed to abort successfully, while the booster was destroyed. The next mission <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-24/DsCky54I">NS-24</a> (uncrewed) and the next crewed mission <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-25/LL4WwICc">NS-25</a> took place following an investigation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="flights">Flights</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Mission</th><th>Launch date (UTC)</th><th>Landing date (UTC)</th><th>Crew</th><th>Duration</th><th>Remarks</th><th>Outcome</th></tr><tr><td>NS-14</td><td>14 January 2021</td><td>14 January 2021</td><td>Uncrewed</td><td>~10 minutes</td><td>Uncrewed test flight. Maiden flight of NS4 propulsion module.</td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td>NS-15</td><td>14 April 2021</td><td>14 April 2021</td><td>Uncrewed</td><td>~10 minutes</td><td>Uncrewed test flight. Passenger process test conducted. Four Blue Origin employees serve as stand-in passengers.</td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-16/DLBJulKS">NS-16</a></td><td>20 July 2021,<p>13:11</p></td><td>20 July 2021,<p>13:21</p></td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Jeff_Bezos/VV9IzSa3">Jeff Bezos</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Mark_Bezos/el57KBHR">Mark Bezos</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Wally_Funk/Aape6SM2">Wally Funk</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Netherlands/y8xn5stT"></a> <a href="/facts/Oliver_Daemen/IX5ISnlC">Oliver Daemen</a></li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 18 seconds</td><td>First crewed flight of the New Shepard vehicle and first crewed spaceflight from Texas. Carried Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-18/Nl6HgvYG">NS-18</a></td><td>13 October 2021,<p>14:49</p></td><td>13 October 2021,<p>14:59</p></td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Audrey_Powers/24KKJbmA">Audrey Powers</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a> Chris Boshuizen</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Glen_de_Vries/ym3zcVvR">Glen de Vries</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc"></a> <a href="/facts/William_Shatner/I02yXUAw">William Shatner</a></li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 17 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Second crewed flight of New Shepard. Carried actor William Shatner and three other paying passengers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-19/s8dfj3sG">NS-19</a></td><td>11 December 2021,<p>15:00</p></td><td>11 December 2021,<p>15:10</p></td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Laura Shepard Churchley</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Michael_Strahan/5hjlUlmr">Michael Strahan</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Dylan_Taylor_(executive)/HYSAP0mr">Dylan Taylor</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Evan Dick</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Lane_Bess/ttlHGRkE">Lane Bess</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Cameron Bess</li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 13 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Third crewed flight of New Shepard. First fully crewed New Shepard spaceflight. Carried Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of <a href="/facts/Alan_Shepard/hS5AgMdu">Alan Shepard</a>, for whom the vehicle is named after, football player and <i><a href="/facts/Good_Morning_America/PGspN5sj">Good Morning America</a></i> host Michael Strahan, and four other paying passengers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-20/S2zIVm8d">NS-20</a></td><td>31 March 2022,<p>13:57</p></td><td>31 March 2022,<p>14:07</p></td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Marty Allen</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Sharon Hagle</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Marc Hagle</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Jim_Kitchen/auCwCNb4">Jim Kitchen</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> George Nield</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Gary_Lai/7r5FTEPb">Gary Lai</a></li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 4 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Fourth crewed flight of New Shepard. Comedian <a href="/facts/Pete_Davidson/oH8sLPMc">Pete Davidson</a> was originally expected to be on board, but was unable to fly due to a launch date change. Davidson was replaced by New Shepard chief architect Gary Lai. Five other paying passengers were on board.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-21/ESkuhdIL">NS-21</a></td><td>4 June 2022, 13:25</td><td>4 June 2022, 13:35</td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Evan Dick</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Katya Echazarreta</li><li><a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2"></a> <a href="/facts/Hamish_Harding/yWKREbpY">Hamish Harding</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Brazil/QHkG46GL"></a> Victor Correa Hespanha</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Jaison Robinson</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Victor_Vescovo/apexqNPl">Victor Vescovo</a></li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 5 seconds<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></td><td>Space tourism mission. Fifth crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-19/s8dfj3sG">NS-19</a> crew member Evan Dick, and undersea explorer <a href="/facts/Victor_Vescovo/apexqNPl">Victor Vescovo</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-22/JPkqQKqM">NS-22</a></td><td>4 August 2022, 13:56</td><td>4 August 2022, 14:06</td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Coby_Cotton/Wb0qzVc7">Coby Cotton</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Portugal/lYzwDQ63"></a> <a href="/facts/M%25C3%25A1rio_Ferreira/PrIkjIId">Mário Ferreira</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Vanessa O'Brian</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Clint Kelly III</li><li><a href="/facts/Egypt/8Ttg0JwB"></a> <a href="/facts/Sara_Sabry/EurjT4vH">Sara Sabry</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Steve Young</li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 22 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Sixth crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included first Portuguese person and first Egyptian person in space.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-25/LL4WwICc">NS-25</a></td><td>19 May 2024, 14:35</td><td>19 May 2024, 14:45</td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Kenneth_Hess/8VzqG6N2">Kenneth Hess</a></li><li><a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3"></a> Sylvain Chiron</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Mason Angel</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Ed_Dwight/7XHpPejt">Ed Dwight</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Carol Schaller</li><li><a href="/facts/India/1kKHcnxM"></a> Gopi Thotakura</li></ul></td><td>9 minutes, 53 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Seventh crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included <a href="/facts/Ed_Dwight/7XHpPejt">Ed Dwight</a>, the <a href="/facts/List_of_spaceflight_records/DcpuM4QD">oldest person to reach space</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-26/ytfFUn3e">NS-26</a></td><td>29 August 2024, 13:07</td><td>29 August 2024, 13:17</td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2"></a> <a href="/facts/Singapore/CQDkhUvD"></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> Nicolina Elrick</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Rob Ferl</li><li><a href="/facts/Ukraine/Qof0uqAj"></a> Eugene Grin</li><li><a href="/facts/Iran/24yukge8"></a> <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Eiman Jahangir</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Karsen Kitchen</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Israel/dEe3IcaY"></a> Ephraim Rabin</li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 8 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Eight crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included Karsen Kitchen, the youngest woman to cross the Kármán line (100 km) at 21 years old.</td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-28/UGh2wf6K">NS-28</a></td><td>22 November 2024, 15:30</td><td>22 November 2024, 15:40</td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Emily_Calandrelli/oFMjRmQ0">Emily Calandrelli</a></li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Sharon Hagle (2)</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Marc Hagle (2)</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Austin Litteral</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> James (J.D.) Russell</li><li><a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc"></a> Henry (Hank) Wolfond</li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 8 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Ninth crewed flight of New Shepard.</td><td>Success</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Blue_Origin_NS-30/z2RToX3h">NS-30</a></td><td>25 February 2025, 15:49</td><td>25 February 2025, 15:59</td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Lane_Bess/ttlHGRkE">Lane Bess</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/facts/Spain/bIyrB8EY"></a> <a href="/facts/Jes%25C3%25BAs_Calleja/aCgHP2cI">Jesús Calleja</a></li><li><a href="/facts/India/1kKHcnxM"></a> <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Tushar Shah</li><li><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Dr. Richard Scott</li><li><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Elaine Chia Hyde</li><li><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a> Russell Wilson</li></ul></td><td>10 minutes, 8 seconds</td><td>Space tourism mission. Tenth crewed flight of New Shepard.</td><td>Success</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Burghardt, Thomas (14 January 2021). "Blue Origin tests New Shepard capsule upgrades on NS-14 mission". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/blue-origin-test-upgrades-ns-14/" target="_blank">https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/blue-origin-test-upgrades-ns-14/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Blue Origin's New Shepard spaceship aces uncrewed rehearsal for crewed space trips". GeekWire. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2021/blue-origins-new-shepard-spaceship-aces-uncrewed-rehearsal-crewed-flight-space/" target="_blank">https://www.geekwire.com/2021/blue-origins-new-shepard-spaceship-aces-uncrewed-rehearsal-crewed-flight-space/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Mission NS-14". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/events/ns-14" target="_blank">https://www.blueorigin.com/events/ns-14</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Sheetz, Michael (14 April 2021). "Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches and lands rocket New Shepard, as it prepares to launch people". CNBC. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/watch-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-new-shepard-ns-15-livestream.html" target="_blank">https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/watch-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-new-shepard-ns-15-livestream.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Roulette, Joey (20 July 2021). "Blue Origin successfully sends Jeff Bezos and three others to space and back". The Verge. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/20/22582735/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-space-launch-landing" target="_blank">https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/20/22582735/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-space-launch-landing</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Leinfelder, Andrea (20 July 2021). "With Jeff Bezos on board, Blue Origin launches first crewed spaceflight from West Texas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-west-texas-launch-rocket-16326221.php" target="_blank">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-west-texas-launch-rocket-16326221.php</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Blue Origin rocket malfunctions, triggers dramatic but safe abort for unpiloted New Shepard capsule". www.cbsnews.com. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-origin-rocket-malfunctions-triggers-dramatic-but-safe-abort-for-unpiloted-new-shepard-capsule/" target="_blank">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-origin-rocket-malfunctions-triggers-dramatic-but-safe-abort-for-unpiloted-new-shepard-capsule/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Jeff Bezos launches to space aboard New Shepard rocket ship". BBC News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57849364" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57849364</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Blue Origin successfully and safely completes second human flight to space and back". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-18-mission-updates" target="_blank">https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-18-mission-updates</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Blue Origin Completes Third Human Spaceflight". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-19-mission-updates" target="_blank">https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-19-mission-updates</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Blue Origin's 20th Mission to Space". Blue Origin. Retrieved 3 April 2022. <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-20-mission-announcement" target="_blank">https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-20-mission-announcement</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>@blueorigin (4 June 2022). "Official launch time was 8:25:02 AM CDT / 13:25:02 UTC. Capsule landing occurred at 8:35:07 AM CDT / 13:35:07 UTC" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 June 2022 – via Twitter. <a href="/wiki/Blue_Origin" target="_blank">/wiki/Blue_Origin</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"New Shepard Mission NS-21 to Fly Six Customer Astronauts, Including First Mexican-Born Woman to Visit Space". www.spacenews.com. 9 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2022. <a href="https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-mission-ns-21-to-fly-six-customer-astronauts-including-first-mexican-born-woman-to-visit-space/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-mission-ns-21-to-fly-six-customer-astronauts-including-first-mexican-born-woman-to-visit-space/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"First Egyptian and Portuguese Astronauts to join Dude Perfect Cofounder on New Shepard's 22nd Flight". Blue Origin. Retrieved 25 July 2022. <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-22-mission-announcement" target="_blank">https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-22-mission-announcement</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"New Shepard's 25th Mission Includes America's First Black Astronaut Candidate". Blue Origin. Retrieved 4 April 2024. <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-25-mission-announcement" target="_blank">https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-25-mission-announcement</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Elrick is a permanent resident of Singapore, and intends to become a Singapore citizen. <a href="/wiki/Singaporean_nationality_law" target="_blank">/wiki/Singaporean_nationality_law</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Chia was born and raise in Singapore, but Singapore does not allow dual citizenship. <a href="/wiki/Singaporean_nationality_law" target="_blank">/wiki/Singaporean_nationality_law</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>