Historical mission. Jeff Bezos – the richest man in the world flew into space. With him aboard the Blue Origin were the oldest and youngest people to ever orbit Earth. The journey to the edge of space lasted exactly 11 minutes, after which the capsule landed successfully.
In clear skies, in a blue space suit and cowboy hat, Bezos, his brother Mark, the millionaire’s 18-year-old son, and 82-year-old Wally Funk, a space exploration veteran, boarded the spacecraft.
During the first two minutes of the flight, the speed increased to 3540 kilometers per hour. At this point, the gravitational forces become so intense that the passengers in the capsule feel their weight three times greater than the real one.
“They experience three to four minutes of weightlessness to be able to look through these beautiful windows as the capsule makes a few turns,” said Blue Origin spokesman Arian Cornell.
2 minutes and 45 seconds after launch, the launch vehicle detached from the capsule at the highest point of the flight – the edge of space. Shortly afterwards, the four space tourists began to fall back to Earth at a speed that crosses the sound barrier.
“It’s an autonomous vehicle. It is designed so that astronauts can feel the flight, “said Cornell.
Bezos and the New Shepard crew practice hard landing
Minutes before the capsule opened its parachutes and landed, the launch vehicle landed on Earth. The spacecraft with its passengers reduced its speed to less than 30 kilometers per hour before landing.
“At the time of landing the capsule, it is moving at 2-3 kilometers per hour,” said the representative of Blue Origin.
Jeff Bezos and the crew were greeted with applause and hugs on the ground. Another billionaire, Richard Branson, was the first to fly into space 11 days ago, but Bezos reached a higher altitude of 100 kilometers, as opposed to 86 kilometers above the surface of the Virgin Galaxy.
SPACE TOURISM START: Richard Branson’s first flight ship (PHOTOS + VIDEO)
“I am very excited! We are ready for the flight. The capsule is also prepared. I have a good feeling and I think the rest of the crew is feeling great. This is a tourist mission, but it is very important. It is a workout to give more people the opportunity to go into space. In this way, we will build the structure that will allow future generations to do truly amazing things, “Bezos said before the flight.
–
