INSIDER
Mexican-born engineer pushing for more diversity in space
Read full article: Mexican-born engineer pushing for more diversity in spaceA 26-year-old electrical and hardware engineer will become the first Mexican-born woman in space when she joins a diverse international crew for a 10-minute flight launched by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
FAA: No more commercial astronaut wings, too many launching
Read full article: FAA: No more commercial astronaut wings, too many launchingThe Federal Aviation Administration says it will no longer give out commercial astronaut wings starting next year because too many people are launching into space.
Live stream: Blue Origin launches into space with William ‘Capt. Kirk’ Shatner onboard
Read full article: Live stream: Blue Origin launches into space with William ‘Capt. Kirk’ Shatner onboardActor William Shatner and Audrey Powers, Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations, will fly on board New Shepard NS-18. They will join crewmates Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries for the flight.
Capt. Kirk’s William Shatner on cusp of blasting into space
Read full article: Capt. Kirk’s William Shatner on cusp of blasting into spaceHollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, has blasted into space and safely returned to Earth in a convergence of science fiction and science reality.
FAA bans Virgin Galactic launches while probing Branson trip
Read full article: FAA bans Virgin Galactic launches while probing Branson tripThe Federal Aviation Administration says Virgin Galactic can't launch anyone into space again until an investigation is complete into founder Richard Branson's flight in July.
Virgin Galactic rocket ship ascends from New Mexico
Read full article: Virgin Galactic rocket ship ascends from New MexicoVirgin Galactic has made its first rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle, as the company forges toward offering tourist flights to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Blue Origin launches capsule to space with astronaut perks
Read full article: Blue Origin launches capsule to space with astronaut perksIn this image from video made available by Blue Origin, the company's New Shepard rocket lands after a test flight in West Texas on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (Blue Origin via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company launched a new capsule into space Thursday to test all the astronaut perks before people strap in. Thursday’s flight with a dummy named Mannequin Skywalker lasted 10 minutes and reached 66 miles (106 kilometers) above West Texas. Both the New Shepard rocket and the capsule landed successfully. It was the 14th flight to the fringes of space for a New Shepard rocket.
NASA moon-landing tech hitches ride to space on Bezos rocket
Read full article: NASA moon-landing tech hitches ride to space on Bezos rocketThe sensors and computer — tested during the booster’s descent and touchdown — will hitch another suborbital ride with Blue Origin. Led by Amazon founder Bezos, Washington state-based Blue Origin is leading a team of companies to develop a lunar lander for astronauts. Tuesday’s launch was the first in nearly a year for Blue Origin: The pandemic stalled operations. Blue Origin said its staff is maintaining social distancing and taking other safety measures. Blue Origin said it needs a couple more flights before launching people — tourists, scientists and professional astronauts — on short hops.
Richard Branson plans to take Virgin Galactic public
Read full article: Richard Branson plans to take Virgin Galactic publicThe Virgin Galactic VMS Mothership "Eve," also known as "WhiteKnightTwo." MOJAVE, Calif. - Richard Branson is preparing Virgin Galactic for a public listing. The billionaire's space tourism company will go public as part of a deal with Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hundreds of people are lined up to ride a short high-speed trip aboard a Virgin Galactic space plane and have agreed to pay $200,000 to $250,000 per seat. Bezos has also spent years working on its space tourism plans, and Blue Origin is expected to compete directly with Virgin Galactic in that business.