Blue Origin Launches 38th New Shepard Flight
On Thursday, Blue Origin successfully executed its 38th New Shepard flight, making its way into space from West Texas. The flight lasted about 10 minutes before safely landing back on Earth.
In a statement on their website, Blue Origin announced, “We have just completed the 38th New Shepard mission and first flight in 2026. New Shepard has now sent 98 people into space.”
The mission, designated NS-38, included a diverse crew. Tim Drexler, a helicopter and airline pilot who previously served as CEO of Ace Asphalt, was among those onboard. The crew also featured Linda Edwards, a former OB-GYN and two-time breast cancer survivor; Alan Fernandes, an international real estate developer; Alberto Gutierrez, founder of Civitatis, a travel platform; Jim Hendren, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and ex-F-15 pilot; and Laura Stiles, who directs launch operations and training for New Shepard.
As Blue Origin enters 2026, Phil Joyce, senior vice president of New Shepard, expressed the company’s commitment to providing innovative experiences for customers, emphasizing gratitude to the astronauts for their trust in the team to bring these experiences to life.
New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space. Remarkably, this flight marks the program’s 38 missions since its inception, with the previous flight occurring on December 20, 2025.
Blue Origin describes New Shepard as a fully reusable suborbital rocket system designed for human flight. During the approximately 11-minute journey, astronauts travel beyond the Kármán line, which marks the boundary of space at about 100 kilometers (62 miles). They experience several moments of weightlessness and get breathtaking views of Earth. Notably, the vehicle operates autonomously without a pilot.
In addition to the crew, Blue Origin’s Foundation Club for the Future shared that the NS-38 mission carried over 20,000 postcards into space. These postcards contain personal messages reflecting individuals’ identities, origins, and aspirations for the future.
