Blue Origin achieved another milestone in commercial space tourism with the successful completion of mission NS-38 on January 22, 2026, marking the company's first spaceflight of the new year. The 11-minute suborbital journey carried six passengers to the edge of space from Blue Origin's West Texas launch facility, adding to the growing roster of civilian space travelers.

Mission Details and Timeline

The New Shepard rocket lifted off at approximately 9:55 pm IST following a brief delay. During the flight, passengers experienced several minutes of weightlessness while viewing Earth from space before safely returning to the Texas desert. This mission represents the 38th flight of the New Shepard program and continues Blue Origin's track record of successful human spaceflight operations.

Passenger Profiles

The diverse crew represented various professional backgrounds and personal achievements. Tim Drexler, former owner and chief executive of Ace Asphalt, transitioned from 40 years in civil contracting to aviation, now piloting helicopters and airplanes. Linda Edwards, a retired obstetrician and gynecologist, brings extensive travel experience from over 40 countries, along with achievements as an award-winning equestrian and two-time breast cancer survivor.

Alain Fernandez contributed three decades of real estate development experience, having overcome a serious diving accident from his previous work as a scuba instructor in French Polynesia. Alberto Gutiérrez, founder of tours platform Civitatis, has visited more than 100 countries across all seven continents. Jim Hendren, a retired US Air Force Colonel and former F-15 fighter pilot, commanded the 157th Combat Operations Squadron and founded global manufacturing firm Hendren Plastics Inc.

Laura Stiles, Blue Origin's Director of New Shepard Launch Operations, joined as a late replacement for Andrew Yaffe, who withdrew due to illness. Stiles holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, maintains the world record for large-formation skydiving, and dedicates time to mentoring young engineers.

Program Milestones and Accessibility

With this latest mission, Blue Origin has transported 98 people to space across 17 human spaceflights, including 92 unique individuals and six passengers who have flown twice. The company began crewed operations on July 20, 2021, coinciding with the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Pricing and Market Position

While Blue Origin has not disclosed official ticket prices for New Shepard flights, industry estimates place costs between $200,000.00 and $300,000.00 per seat. This pricing positions the company competitively against Virgin Galactic, which charges approximately $600,000.00 per seat. Prospective customers must provide a $150,000.00 deposit when submitting booking forms, though some passengers have participated through grants or external funding arrangements.

The successful completion of NS-38 demonstrates Blue Origin's continued commitment to making space accessible to civilian passengers while maintaining safety standards established over nearly four years of human spaceflight operations.

Jeff Bezos's rocket company Blue Origin has announced ambitious plans for its TeraWave satellite network, marking a significant entry into the global satellite internet market. The project aims to deploy 5,400 satellites in orbit to deliver internet services worldwide, positioning itself as a major competitor in the rapidly expanding satellite communications sector.

TeraWave Network Specifications

Blue Origin's TeraWave network distinguishes itself through exceptional speed capabilities, targeting high-performance applications rather than mass consumer markets. The network specifications highlight its enterprise focus:

The TeraWave network's emphasis on ultra-high-speed data transmission sets it apart from competitors, focusing specifically on enterprise, data center, and government customers who require robust, high-capacity internet solutions.

Dual Satellite Initiatives Under Bezos

Interestingly, Blue Origin's TeraWave project operates alongside Amazon's existing Project Kuiper, creating two separate satellite initiatives under Jeff Bezos's business portfolio. Project Kuiper continues pursuing its goal of placing 3,000 satellites in orbit, maintaining its independent trajectory despite sharing the same ultimate backer.

This dual approach represents an unusual strategy where both companies pursue separate satellite constellation projects, potentially creating internal competition while expanding overall market presence.

Strategic Market Positioning

The satellite communications market has demonstrated significant strategic value across various applications, from commercial internet services to critical infrastructure support. Satellite networks have proven particularly valuable in regions where terrestrial internet infrastructure faces limitations or during emergency situations when traditional networks become unavailable.

The competitive landscape benefits from multiple players entering the market, preventing any single entity from achieving complete market dominance. Blue Origin's TeraWave network, with its focus on high-speed enterprise applications, targets a different market segment than typical consumer-oriented satellite internet services, potentially creating complementary rather than directly competing services in the broader satellite communications ecosystem.