Last launch took place in September last year
The American company Blue Origin plans to launch its New Shepard suborbital ship on December 18, after more than a year of pause caused by a failed previous launch.
A message posted on social network X (formerly Twitter) states: «We are planning a launch window for our next New Shepard mission for December 18th». As part of this mission, the spacecraft will carry cargo intended for scientific and research work.
New Shepard's previous launch occurred in September 2022 and ended in failure due to technical problems with the launch vehicle, which led to the premature undocking of the cargo capsule. As a result of an incident that occurred a few minutes after takeoff, the capsule successfully returned to Earth using a parachute. The US Federal Aviation Administration completed its investigation and ordered more than 20 improvements to the ship's design.
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, produces spacecraft, heavy-lift launch vehicles and rocket engines.