Space

Ride along as a rocket lands

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
May 12, 2016

Blue Origin posted this video to YouTube on May 9, 2016. It’s video from the New Shepard suborbital flight on April 2, 2016, and it gives you a ringside seat on the view from the booster, from just ahead of its reentry through its descent and landing in West Texas.

The April 2 launch sent the New Shepard rocket to an altitude of 339,178 ft (103 km). The rocket released an unmanned Crew Capsule, which returned to Earth via parachute. Afterwards, the rocket plunged back to Earth, at one point seeing its own shadow.

A GH2 vent camera, located just below the booster’s ring fin, created the video.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos owns the private spaceflight company Blue Origin, whose goal is space tourism.

The launch and landing was Blue Origin’s third successful test flight in less than five months.

The recent flight and landing of the reusable New Shepard rocket was intended to test its engines ability to restart quickly at high thrust. Image via Blue Origin.
April 2 flight of reusable New Shepard rocket, by Blue Origin. Image via Blue Origin.
On April 2, 2016, Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket flew to an altitude of 339,178 ft (103 km). It released an unmanned Crew Capsule, which returned to Earth using parachutes. Then the rocket itself came plummeting down, at one point seeing its own shadow. Image via Blue Origin.
Watch in the video above as the New Shepard rocket sees its own shadow. Image via Blue Origin.

Bottom line: Video the April 2 upright landing of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.

Posted 
May 12, 2016
 in 
Space

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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