Next Blue Origin Launch: Crew announced for upcoming Texas spaceflight

Blue Origin is preparing to send six civilians on a brief journey beyond Earth's atmosphere aboard its New Shepard rocket. The company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has disclosed the passengers for this upcoming mission, which will lift off from West Texas and travel more than 60 miles above the planet.

This flight will mark Blue Origin's first crewed New Shepard mission in over two months and the sixth human launch since April, when an all-women crew including pop star Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King made history. The mission follows Blue Origin's recent uncrewed launch of its larger New Glenn rocket from Florida.

Launch Details

The next New Shepard mission, designated NS-37, will be the vehicle's 16th human spaceflight and 37th flight overall. As of December 4, 2025, Blue Origin has not confirmed an official launch date. Historically, the company has announced crew members about a week prior to liftoff. Launches take place at the company's private facility, Launch Site One, located over 140 miles east of El Paso, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Crew of NS-37

The six selected passengers will join the 80 others who have previously flown on New Shepard. The NS-37 crew includes:

• Michaela (Michi) Benthaus Aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency
• Joey Hyde Physicist and hedge fund investor from Florida
• Hans Koenigsmann German-American aerospace engineer and former SpaceX executive
• Neal Milch Business executive and chair of the Jackson Laboratory board
• Adonis Pouroulis Entrepreneur in natural resources and energy sectors
• Jason Stansell West Texas adventurer with a passion for rocketry

About Blue Origin and Its Rockets

Founded in 2000, Blue Origin is headquartered in Washington state and conducts New Shepard launches from West Texas. Jeff Bezos personally flew aboard New Shepard during its first crewed mission in July 2021. The suborbital New Shepard is distinct from the larger, orbital New Glenn rocket, which recently launched NASA satellites to Mars orbit.

Flight Experience

New Shepard missions last roughly 11 minutes from liftoff to landing. The 60-foot rocket, named after astronaut Alan Shepard, features a gumdrop-shaped crew capsule that operates autonomously. During ascent, it exceeds 2,000 mph before separating from the booster. Passengers experience a brief period of weightlessness and enjoy expansive views of Earth from large capsule windows.

Afterward, the booster returns to the ground for a controlled vertical landing, while the capsule descends under parachutes for a soft landing in the desert.

Cost of a Blue Origin Trip

Tickets for New Shepard flights are not publicly listed, but a $150,000 deposit is required to reserve a seat. Early flights have sold for millions, including a $28 million auctioned ticket in 2021. Some passengers have had their trips funded through grants or institutional sponsorships.

Author: Olivia Parker