William Shatner to launch on Blue Origin's New Shepard
Captain Kirk is headed to space.
William Shatner, the 90-year-old actor who starred as Captain Kirk on "Star Trek: The Original Series," will launch on a suborbital spaceflight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on Oct. 12, 2021, the company announced today (Oct. 4).
Shatner, whose flight was hinted at last month by TMZ, is officially launching on Blue Origin's second crewed spaceflight. Liftoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT) from the company's Launch Site One in West Texas near the town of Van Horn. He will become the oldest person ever to fly in space with the mission.
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Joining Shatner on New Shepard will be: Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of missions and flight operations; Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of Earth observation company Planet Labs, and Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at French software company Dassault Systèmes. Shatner and Powers were announced as crewmembers today, while Boshuizen and de Vries were announced on Sept. 27.
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The upcoming flight comes less than three months after Blue Origin's First Human Flight mission, which launched Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, 82-year-old Wally Funk and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen on a suborbital flight on July 20. That mission set four Guinness World Records for the oldest person to fly in space (Funk), the youngest person to fly in space (Daemen), the first siblings to launch into space together and the first paying passenger to launch into space (Daemen, whose father paid for the trip), according to a GWR statement on Friday (Oct. 1).
Shatner's flight follows the 55th anniversary of "Star Trek," which debuted on TV on Sept. 8, 1966, and on the heels of the actor's latest album "Bill," an autobiographical collection of spoken word pieces.
My album “BILL” is available now! 🙌🏻 Not only is this entire album important to me but “Black Horse” 🐎 is quite significant. It’s a story of my love for horses, my relationship with my champion, and how his life affected me. Check out https://t.co/G48EJazvqK pic.twitter.com/iujVSqRFVFSeptember 24, 2021
We'll be posting updates of Shatner's launch into space, landing and post-flight celebrations here throughout the mission, so be sure to check back for updates. In the meantime, here's a recap of Blue Origin's First Human Flight mission.
William Shatner talks space trip with Today Show
“I’m going to see the vastness of space and the extraordinary miracle of our earth and how fragile it is.”@WilliamShatner, known for playing Captain Kirk in “Star Trek,” joins us to talk about his upcoming historic mission to space. pic.twitter.com/D7qvhA4rTbOctober 5, 2021
William Shatner is weighing in on his upcoming launch into space on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket next week, and apparently the 90-year-old Trek actor is thrilled.
"We talk about space and what weightless conditions are, the enormity of the universe and the absolute jewel of a little thing we call the Earth by comparison," Shatner told NBC's Today Show this morning. "I'm going to feel that with the same enormity that I felt this electrical storm last night."
You can watch the interview above, courtesy of the Today Show.
Shatner will launch on a suborbital flight aboard New Shepard on Oct. 12 from Blue Origin's Launch Site One near Van Horn, Texas. He will fly with three other passengers, including two paying customers for Blue Origin. The flight will make Shatner the oldest person to fly in space.
William Shatner to be oldest person in space
William Shatner is about to set a world record.
When the 90-year-old actor launches on a suborbital spaceflight on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket next week, he will become the oldest person ever to fly in space. He'll beat Wally Funk, who at 87 just set the latest record in July on Blue Origin's First Human Flight mission with Jeff Bezos.
Funk snagged the title from the late astronaut John Glenn, one of NASA's original seven Project Mercury astronauts, who was the first American to orbit Earth in 1962. He set the oldest person in space record in 1998 when, at age 77 and while still serving as a U.S. senator, he launched on NASA's space shuttle Discovery on the STS-95 mission. G
Shatner: "I'm terrified."
To fans at New York Comic Con, "Star Trek" actor William Shatner admitted to fans that he's getting some preflight jitters about his Tuesday jaunt to suborbital space.
"I'm terrified," Shatner said. "I know!...I'm Captain bloody Kirk and I'm terrified!"
He also told fans how he got his seat. Read the full story here.
William Shatner hopes for no 'gremlins' on launch
Famed "Star Trek" William Shatner says he's hoping to see magnificent views of Earth from space when he launches with Blue Origin next week. The only thing he doesn't want to see? Gremlins.
"I plan to be looking out the window with my nose pressed against window," Shatner said in a video released by Blue Origin featuring an interview with the actor and the company's Audrey Powers, who will also launch on the flight. "The only think I don't want to see is a little gremlin looking back at me," he added with a smile.
Shatner's joke referenced the iconic 1963 episode of "The Twilight Zone" called "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," in which Shatner portrayed a passenger on a commercial flight who sees a gremlin on the wing of the plane.
Powers said she wasn't sure what she was excited for more: launching into space with Captain Kirk of Star Trek or launching with lawyer Denny Crane of Boston Legal, both roles portrayed by Shatner.
"I plan to be spending the majority of my time looking out the window," she said.
Shatner and Powers will launch on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft from the company's Launch Site One near Van Horn, Texas. They will fly with two paying passengers: Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet, and Glen de Vries, co-founder of the medical software company Medidata Solutions.
Shatner said he hopes to use his experience to write a new song about his love of Earth to be included on his next album. His most recent spoken word album "Bill" was released last month.
Weather concerns push William Shatner's Blue Origin launch to Wednesday
Blue Origin has pushed the next launch of its New Shepard vehicle, which will carry "Star Trek" actor William Shatner and three other people to suborbital space, from Tuesday (Oct. 12) to Wednesday (Oct. 13) due to weather concerns — specifically, unfavorable wind forecasts.
Read the full story here.
Crew portrait
In a tweet published on Sunday (Oct. 10), Blue Origin released its official portrait of the crew of NS-18, which will be the company's second mission with passengers on board.
The NS-18 flight will include actor William Shatner of "Star Trek" fame and Blue Origin's Audrey Powers as guests, with paying customers Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet, and Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes along for the ride.
As with Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight, the passengers on this flight have been outfitted with the company's blue and black flight suits with gray and black footwear.
William Shatner speaks out on Blue Origin flight
With less than one day remaining before William Shatner's launch into space with Blue Origin, the "Star Trek" actor says he looks forward to being "entranced" by the experience in a new video.
"It's life-changing, it its way. Not because of the aerial adventure, but because of the people I'm meeting and talking with," Shatner says in the video, which Blue Origin released on Twitter.
"We are just at the beginning, but how miraculous the beginning is," he added. "How extraordinary it is to be part of that beginning."
Watch the whole video above.
Blue Origin clears New Shepard for launch
Blue Origin has cleared its New Shepard rocket launch William Shatner and three other passengers to space on Wednesday, Oct. 13. The mission now has a new launch time: 10 a.m. EDT (9 a.m. CDT/1400 GMT). Blue Origin's webcast will begin 90 minutes before launch.
The launch time is 30 minutes later than previously announced to account for wind conditions during rocket rollout, Blue Origin said. Here's a look at what time Blue Origin will launch William Shatner from Space.com editor Hanneke Weitering.
Shatner also recorded a video with Blue Origin on what he was expecting from the launch. He said he anticipates it will be a "life-changing" experience. You can read our full story on that here.
Blue Origin's webcast will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT).
It's Launch Day for William Shatner
Launch day is here for "Star Trek" actor William Shatner and three others who will launch on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket today.
Shatner, 90, will become the oldest person ever to fly in space when he launches on New Shepard from Blue Origin's Launch Site One near Van Horn, Texas today. Liftoff is set for 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT), with a live webcast to begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT).
Shatner will launch with Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers; Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes; and Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet. Blue Origin is flying Shatner and Powers on its own, with Boshuizen and de Vries flying as paying passengers.
You can watch the launch live here on Space.com, courtesy of Blue Origin, or directly via the company's YouTube. It will also be at the top of this page at start time.
Pictured above: Shatner holds up a postcard he wrote for Blue Origin's Club for the Future. It reads:
"This is the most important and practical concept for space use and for aiding in saving planet Earth -- William Shatner."
It's go time!
Our #NS18 crew has arrived onsite at Launch Site One and getting suited up for the flight. Liftoff is on track for 9:00 am CDT / 14:00 UTC. Live broadcast on https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr begins at T-90 minutes. A thread: pic.twitter.com/YK2y8kYIDzOctober 13, 2021
The four passengers flying aboard today's launch of the New Shepard suborbital vehicle have arrived at Blue Origin's Launch Site One and are beginning the process of donning the suits they will wear for flight, the company said in a tweet.
Blue Origin launch webcast begins
Blue Origin's webcast for today's launch of William Shatner and three crewmates has begun.
You can watch the launch live here on Space.com, courtesy of Blue Origin, or directly via the company's YouTube. It is also at the top of this page at start time.
Shatner will launch with Blue Origin's Audrey Powers; Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes; and Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet. Blue Origin is flying Shatner and Powers on its own, with Boshuizen and de Vries flying as paying passengers.
Liftoff is set for 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT).
Blue Origin launch seats
Blue Origin says William Shatner is flying in Seat 2 of the New Shepard RSS First Step for today's launch.
Seat 1 will be occupied by Blue Origin's own Audrey Powers, vice president of mission and flight operations.
Seat 4 will be used by Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet and a former NASA engineer.
Seat 6 will be taken by Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes, who apparently has a website dedicated to asking if he's in space yet.
Blue Origin less 1 hour to launch
With less than an hour to go for today's launch, Blue Origin has presented William Shatner and his crew of three with their official challenge coins by their Crew Member Seven. Check out the video above.
Blue Origin's countdown is currently in a hold.
Blue origin at T-45 minutes and holding
Blue Origin is currently in a hold at T-45 minutes as it works to complete vehicle readiness checks for today's flight of William Shatner and crew.
Winds have also been a concern throughout the countdown and launch preparations, with Blue Origin delaying the mission 24 hours from a Tuesday launch, then pushing it back by 30 minutes today to 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) due to high winds. The launch may slip again today pending wind conditions.
A short while ago, the crew climbed into their a Rivian electric truck for the drive out to the pad with none other than Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos at the wheel.
New Launch Time, Crew arrives at launchpad
Blue Origin is now targeting 10:31 a.m. EDT (1431 GMT) for today's launch and the crew has arrived at Launch Site One in their Rivian electric truck.
They will soon board their spacecraft after climbing the staircase to the gantry.
William Shatner and crew board New Shepard
Actor William Shatner and the three other NS-18 crewmembers of climbed inside their New Shepard crew capsule for today's launch and are being strapped in.
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos escorted the crew up the gantry stairs and into the capsule for the flight.
Liftoff remains on track for 10:31 a.m. EDT (1431 GMT).
New Shepard hatch closed, launch on hold
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos has closed the RSS First Step New Shepard capsule hatch, sealing William Shatner and the rest of the NS-18 crew inside for their launch.
Blue Origin has called a launch hold as the hatch is secured.
New Launch Time: 10:50 am EDT (1450 GMT).
Blue Origin has resumed its countdown and is now targeting 10:50 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT) for today's launch of William Shatner and the NS-18 crew on New Shepard.
LIFTOFF!
Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket and capsule carrying "Star Trek" actor William Shatner, Blue Origin's Audrey Powers and paying passengers Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet, and Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes.
Today's suborbital flight will last 11 minutes, with the New Shepard booster returning to Earth while the RSS First Step capsule continues upward into suborbital space, then parachuting back to Earth.
Main engine cutoff, booster separation
The BE-3 engine on Blue Origin's New Shepard booster has shut down as planned and the booster has separated from the crew capsule.
The capsule continued to space, crossing the Karman line 62 miles (100 km) up. The crew will have 4 minutes of weightlessness and will be floating about the cabin.
Blue Origin is not carrying any audio from inside the cabin as the company did on its first crewed flight.
Touchdown!
Blue Origin's New Shepard booster has successfully landed about 7 minutes after liftoff, marking a successful 4th flight for the booster. A few minutes later, the crew capsule followed suit.
Touchdown 2! William Shatner has landed back on Earth with the NS-18 crew. pic.twitter.com/M82KT64vw2October 13, 2021
Touchdown 1! @blueorigin's booster has landed safely and the crew capsule has deployed its parachutes for its own descent. Crew audio is now coming through. 'That was unlike anything they described,' Shatner says. pic.twitter.com/jtoD6rU6z0October 13, 2021
William Shatner, back from final frontier, gets wings
Back on Earth after a smooth spaceflight, "Star Trek" actor William Shatner appeared visibly moved by today's launch on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.
"Everybody in the world needs to do this. Everybody in the world needs to see," he told Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos after landing. "That was unbelievable."
Bezos presented Shatner and the three other passengers on New Shepard's NS-18 launch with their Blue Origin astronaut wings shortly after they existed the capsule in the West Texas desert.
"Okay guys, we have four astronauts here before you," Bezos said as he presented the wings. In addition to Shatner, Blue Origin vice president for mission and flight operations Audrey Powers and paying customers Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the San Francisco-based Earth observation company Planet, Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes, received the pins.
The pin ceremony and some reactions from the NS-18 crew marked the end of Blue Origin's webcast. Shatner and the crew are expected to visit their New Shepard booster on its landing pad for a crew photo later today, but we will be ending our blow-by-blow coverage of today's flight. Thank you for joining us and keep looking up!
William Shatner moved by Blue Origin launch
With William Shatner back on Earth, we thought we'd take one look back at his record-breaking space launch with Blue Origin with the highlights video above.
Shatner launched on a short 10-minute flight to suborbital space on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on Wednesday, Oct. 13, and was moved to tears by what he billed as an experience like no other. He launched with Blue Origin's Audrey Powers and two paying customers: Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of the San Francisco-based Earth observation company Planet, Glen de Vries, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes.
You can also hear Shatner's powerful reaction to the flight and see the first video from aboard New Shepard.
