On June 29, 2025, Blue Origin successfully launched six private passengers on a suborbital spaceflight using its New Shepard rocket system. The mission, designated NS-33, took off at 10:38 a.m. ET from Launch Site One in West Texas, marking the 33rd overall launch of New Shepard and its 13th crewed mission. The launch had previously faced two delays due to poor weather conditions on June 21 and 22, but favorable skies finally allowed a safe and successful flight.

The flight lasted around 10 minutes and 14 seconds, during which passengers experienced a few minutes of weightlessness after passing the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space at 100 kilometers altitude. Powered by the BE-3PM engine, the booster stage propelled the capsule to suborbital heights before separating and executing a precision vertical landing back on the desert floor. The RSS Kármán Line capsule floated safely back to Earth under parachutes, aided by retro rockets that cushioned the final descent.

The six-member crew of NS-33 included a unique and diverse mix of passengers. Allie and Carl Kuehner, a married couple, became only the second couple to fly together on a Blue Origin flight. Carl Kuehner also became the 750th human to enter space, a symbolic milestone in space travel. Other members included Leland Larson, a retired CEO and philanthropist; Freddie Rescigno Jr., a business owner and competitive golfer; and Jim Sitkin, a retired lawyer known for his legal work in employment law. A particularly historic aspect of the mission was the participation of Owolabi Salis, an attorney and financial consultant, who became the first Nigerian-born person in space.

This mission showcased significant operational achievements for Blue Origin. The booster and capsule landed within a few hundred meters of each other—closer than in prior missions—demonstrating improvements in landing accuracy. The successful mission also underscored Blue Origin’s increasing flight cadence, being its third crewed mission in less than three months following NS-31 in April and NS-32 in May. These rapid turnarounds indicate the company’s readiness for more frequent tourist flights.

Since launching its first human passengers in July 2021, Blue Origin has now flown 74 individuals to space. The cost per seat is estimated to be over $500,000, making it an exclusive experience reserved for high-net-worth individuals. Still, Blue Origin is showing signs of moving beyond purely celebrity-focused missions toward a more inclusive and professionally diverse passenger list. Earlier missions, such as the all-female NS-31, drew criticism for being media spectacles, but NS-33 appears to mark a return to meaningful representation and mission purpose.

The company’s reusable rocket technology remains central to its cost and sustainability model. Each mission helps refine the engineering systems for quick turnaround and reduced refurbishment needs. The spacecraft’s BE-3 engine and automated guidance systems performed flawlessly on this mission, boosting confidence in future flights.

Passenger experiences were reportedly emotional and transformative. After liftoff, the crew enjoyed 3–4 minutes of microgravity, with panoramic views through the capsule’s large windows. Upon landing, the capsule and crew were retrieved in excellent condition. The mission was declared a full success by Blue Origin officials.

NS-33 also highlights Blue Origin’s steady progress in establishing a routine for space tourism, distinguishing it from competitors like Virgin Galactic. With a clear focus on safety, diversity, and frequent flights, the company is aiming to build a regular suborbital tourism program. Plans are reportedly underway to begin offering weekly flights as part of Blue Origin’s commercial roadmap, though specific launch dates for the next mission, NS-34, have yet to be announced.

Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission represents another confident step forward in the commercial space tourism sector. With new milestones, historic firsts, and continued reusability success, the mission demonstrated the growing maturity of suborbital spaceflight. The inclusion of diverse individuals such as the first Nigerian-born astronaut and the 750th person in space symbolizes both the exclusivity and growing accessibility of space. While challenges remain in affordability and broad appeal, the flight offered a glimpse of what future space travel may become—a blend of excitement, engineering, and human inspiration.