{{short description|Aborted 2022 American uncrewed sub-orbital spaceflight}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{infobox spaceflight | name = Blue Origin NS-23 | image = | image_alt = A Blue Origin capsule ejecting from a New Shepard booster. | image_size = 230 | image_caption = RSS ''H. G. Wells'' firing its launch escape system | mission_type = [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]] | mission_duration = ~{{time interval|September 12, 2022, 14:27:00|September 12, 2022, 14:32:30|show=hms|sep=,}} | suborbital_apogee = Capsule: {{cvt|11.4|km}}<ref name=Foust2022>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Foust |date=2022-09-12 |title=New Shepard suffers in-flight abort on uncrewed suborbital flight |url=https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-suffers-in-flight-abort-on-uncrewed-suborbital-flight/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=[[SpaceNews]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914113348/https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-suffers-in-flight-abort-on-uncrewed-suborbital-flight/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | spacecraft = [[New Shepard#New Shepard 3|RSS ''H. G. Wells'']]<ref name=OS-yybpgry23vgntid6y3di4n5f2e/> | manufacturer = [[Blue Origin]] | launch_date = {{ltime|September 12, 2022|14|27|00|CDT|net=no}} | launch_rocket = [[New Shepard]] ([[New Shepard#New Shepard 3|NS3]])<ref name=OS-yybpgry23vgntid6y3di4n5f2e/> | launch_site = [[Corn Ranch]], LS-1 | launch_contractor = Blue Origin | destroyed = ''Tail 3'' booster | landing_date = Capsule: {{circa}} {{ltime|September 12, 2022|14|32|30|CDT|unlink=yes|net=no}}<ref name=Foust2022 /> | landing_site = Corn Ranch | insignia = Blue Origin NS-23 patch.png | insignia_caption = Blue Origin NS-23 mission patch | programme = '''[[New Shepard#Flight list|New Shepard flights]]''' | previous_mission = [[Blue Origin NS-22]] | next_mission = [[Blue Origin NS-24]] }}
'''Blue Origin NS-23''' was a [[sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital cargo spaceflight]] mission of [[Blue Origin]]'s [[New Shepard]] rocket, [[New Shepard#New Shepard 3|New Shepard Booster 3]] (NS3), which launched on September 12, 2022. The booster failed during [[max q]] about a minute after launch, triggering the [[launch escape system]] which removed the capsule from the booster.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2022-09-12 |title=Blue Origin's uncrewed capsule safely escapes after midflight anomaly |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/12/23348958/blue-origin-new-shepard-crew-capsule-launch-anomaly-uncrewed |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912151855/https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/12/23348958/blue-origin-new-shepard-crew-capsule-launch-anomaly-uncrewed |url-status=live }}</ref> The capsule landed successfully, while the booster was destroyed upon impact with the ground.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Thorbecke |first=Catherine |date=12 September 2022 |title=Blue Origin rocket experiences 'booster failure,' activates abort system during uncrewed launch |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/12/tech/blue-origin-launch-anomaly/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912155442/https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/12/tech/blue-origin-launch-anomaly/index.html |archive-date=2022-09-12 |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=CNN}}</ref>
==Flight== The flight involved the capsule [[RSS H. G. Wells|RSS ''H. G. Wells'']] and the propulsion module ''Tail 3'', forming the [[New Shepard]] stack.<ref name="OS-yybpgry23vgntid6y3di4n5f2e">{{cite news |author=Tribou |first=Richard |date=12 September 2022 |title=FAA grounds Blue Origin New Shepard after emergency abort during launch |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-blue-origin-new-shepard-ns-23-launch-20220912-yybpgry23vgntid6y3di4n5f2e-story.html |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> The vehicle was originally intended to launch on August 31 but was grounded by bad weather, first to September 1 and then to September 12.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, which has carried space tourists, suffers failure |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/blue-origin-launch-failure-1.6580008 |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913042157/https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/blue-origin-launch-failure-1.6580008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=New Shepard Mission NS-23 Updates |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-23-mission-updates/ |website=Blue Origin |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913062837/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-23-mission-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On September 12, the vehicle lifted off as expected but one minute and four seconds into the flight at an altitude of approximately {{cvt|8|km}},<ref name="abc">{{cite news |date=13 September 2022 |title='We've experienced an anomaly': Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket fails in uncrewed mission |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-13/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-rocket-crashes-over-texas/101433056 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913012544/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-13/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-rocket-crashes-over-texas/101433056 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=ABC News}}</ref> as the rocket was reaching its maximum dynamic pressure, booster one failed and yellow flames could be seen coming from it.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |date=12 September 2022 |title='We've experienced an anomaly': Bezos's latest Blue Origin launch fails |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/sep/12/bezos-blue-origin-new-shepard-launch-failure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914113349/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/sep/12/bezos-blue-origin-new-shepard-launch-failure |archive-date=14 September 2022 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> As the rocket begun to tilt the [[launch escape system]] was triggered by the booster failure, pushing the capsule away from the booster.<ref>{{cite news |title=Booster failure halts Blue Origin space mission |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-62885026 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=BBC News |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914113349/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-62885026 |url-status=live }}</ref> The capsule reached an altitude of more than {{Cvt|7|mi|km|order=flip}}, before successfully deploying its parachutes and landing;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=2022-09-12 |title=Bezos' Rocket Crashes; No People Were Aboard |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/science/space/bezos-blue-origin-rocket-crash.html |access-date=2022-09-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2022-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912233512/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/science/space/bezos-blue-origin-rocket-crash.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the booster impacted in a hazard zone and was destroyed.<ref name="abc" /> The flight had no humans aboard, but the same booster design is used on Blue Origin's commercial flights carrying passengers.<ref name="sas" />
As the launch escape system was triggered Blue Origin's live launch commentary went silent, before saying "It appears we've experienced an anomaly with today's flight. This wasn't planned". Blue Origin later tweeted "Booster failure on today's uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Marcia |title=Bezos rocket fails during liftoff, only experiments aboard |url=https://www.wbtv.com/2022/09/12/bezos-rocket-fails-during-liftoff-only-experiments-aboard/ |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=www.wbtv.com |language=en |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913163121/https://www.wbtv.com/2022/09/12/bezos-rocket-fails-during-liftoff-only-experiments-aboard/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The flight was the first complete mission failure of the [[New Shepard]] vehicle, and the second in-flight anomaly after NS-1, where the booster crashed upon landing, with the capsule landing safely.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Wall |first=Mike |date=2022-09-12 |editor-last=Howell |editor-first=Elizabeth |title=Blue Origin's New Shepard suffers anomaly during launch, capsule lands safely |url=https://www.space.com/blue-origin-ns-23-mission-launch-preview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912195803/https://www.space.com/blue-origin-ns-23-mission-launch-preview |archive-date=2022-09-12 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> This was the fourth time the abort motor has been used, and only time outside of testing. The three previous times were a pad abort test, an in flight abort test at max q (NS-5), and an in flight test at high altitude (NS-9).<ref name="ParabolicArc-20220912">{{cite news |author=Messier |first=Doug |date=12 September 2022 |title=New Shepard Research Flight Suffers In-flight Abort; Capsule Lands Safely, Booster Likely Destroyed |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2022/09/12/new-shepard-research-flight-suffers-in-flight-abort-capsule-lands-safely-booster-destroyed/ |publisher=Parabolic Arc}}</ref>
== Payload == NS-23 was the twenty-third flight of the [[New Shepard]] vehicle, and the first time the vehicle failed to reach outer space as expected. On board were thirty-six payloads, including eighteen funded by [[NASA]]'s Flight Opportunities program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NS-23 to Fly 36 Payloads and Tens of Thousands of Club for the Future Postcards to Space |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-23-mission-announcement |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912162932/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-23-mission-announcement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Blue Origin expects that the majority of the payloads survived due to the backup safety systems, although two payloads attached to the outside of the capsule, including JANUS-APL, are predicted to have been destroyed.<ref name="guardian"/>
{| class="wikitable" ! Payload !! Operator !! Description |- | AMPES || [[Infinity Fuel Cell]] and [[NASA]] || Demonstrate the operation of [[hydrogen fuel cells]] in microgravity.<ref name="blueorigin">{{cite web |title=NS-23 to Fly 36 Payloads and Tens of Thousands of Club for the Future Postcards to Space |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-23-mission-announcement/ |website=Blue Origin |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913045450/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-23-mission-announcement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | Biological Imaging in Support of Suborbital Science || [[University of Florida]] || Tests an improved version of the BISS system, including autofocus and improved resolution.<ref name="blueorigin" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Biological Imaging in Support of Suborbital Science |url=https://flightopportunities.ndc.nasa.gov/technologies/239/ |website=Flight Opportunities |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913143152/https://flightopportunities.ndc.nasa.gov/technologies/239/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | ASSET-1 || [[Honeybee Robotics]] || Study the strength of [[regolith]] under different gravity conditions.<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | Wings of Steel || [[NeoCity Academy]] || Test the effects of gravity on ultrasonic waves.<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | WAX CASTING || [[MIT Media Lab]] || Test how propellants can be fabricated in space.<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | ENGARTBOX || [[Anatolia College]] and [[Olympiaspace]] || Attempts to produce a painting in microgravity.<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | CFOSS || [[NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center]] || Test of a space-rated [[Fiber-optic sensor|fiber optic sensing system]].<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | JANUS-APL || [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]] || Mounted outside the capsule to monitor conditions in the atmosphere.<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | T-2 Mission Arroway || [[Titan Space Technologies]] || Test of a sensor-monitoring AI<ref name="blueorigin" /> |- | VARD || [[Creare, LLC]] and [[Dartmouth College]] || Test a sensor that monitors the volume of liquid in a flexible bladder in microgravity<ref name="blueorigin" /> |}
==Investigation== In March 2023, Blue Origin released the findings in the NS-23 failure investigation. The investigation took over six months with little information released publicly during that time. It found that failure in the [[BE-3#BE-3PM|BE-3PM]] caused the accident. The engine failure was as a result of higher than expected temperatures due to design changes prior to the accident flight.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |title=Blue Origin says an overheated engine part caused last year's cargo rocket failure |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/24/blue-origin-ns-23-failure-cause.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin NS-23 Findings |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-23-findings |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US}}</ref>
Blue Origin stated that it plans to make structural changes to its BE-3 engine in order to withstand higher temperatures, and is targeting a return to flight before the end of 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-24 |title=Blue Origin Says Engine Issue Caused September Rocket Crash |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-24/blue-origin-says-engine-issue-caused-september-rocket-crash |access-date=2023-03-24}}</ref>
==Response== The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] grounded the New Shepard vehicles while it conducts an investigation into "whether any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety", noting that the investigation is standard procedure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Huileng |title=An uncrewed rocket from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin failed just over a minute after launch |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-uncrewed-blue-origin-rocket-fails-minute-launch-liftoff-2022-9 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913052127/https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-uncrewed-blue-origin-rocket-fails-minute-launch-liftoff-2022-9 |url-status=live }}</ref> The chairman of the [[United States House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics]], [[Don Beyer]], issued a statement, saying that it was a "compelling reminder of the risks of spaceflight".<ref name="sas">{{cite web |date=12 September 2022 |title=Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chair Beyer Statement on Blue Origin New Shepard-23 Booster Failure |url=https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/space-and-aeronautics-subcommittee-chair-beyer-statement-on-blue-origin-new-shepard-23-booster-failure |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913001630/https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/space-and-aeronautics-subcommittee-chair-beyer-statement-on-blue-origin-new-shepard-23-booster-failure |archive-date=13 September 2022 |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=science.house.gov |publisher=House Committee on Science, Space and Technology |language=en}}</ref>
The incident is expected to cause scheduling delays for Blue Origin, as engineers attempt to identify the cause of the failure and correct it;<ref name="guardian" /> the New Shepard class will not be permitted to fly again until the FAA sign off on their findings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Uncrewed Blue Origin capsule lands safely after New Shepard rocket failure |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/blue-origin-ns-23-032202728.html |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=au.finance.yahoo.com |language=en-AU |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913032339/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/blue-origin-ns-23-032202728.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On September 15, leaders of the [[United States House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics]] called for more transparency from the FAA due to the lack of details regarding the abort. As New Shepard flies humans, the accident would have endangered lives had there been passengers on board. The request for transparency included keeping members of the subcommittee up to date with the investigation, the root cause of the accident once it was determined, and actions to address the cause.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Malik |first=Tariq |date=2022-09-19 |title=Congress wants transparency on Blue Origin launch failure investigation by FAA |url=https://www.space.com/blue-origin-launch-failure-congress-faa-transparency |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=Space.com}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Soyuz 7K-T No.39|Soyuz 18a]] *[[Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L|Soyuz T-10a]] *[[STS-51-F]] *[[STS-51-L]] *[[Soyuz MS-10]]
== References == <references />
{{Blue Origin}}
[[Category:2022 in spaceflight]] [[Category:2022 in Texas]] [[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2022]] [[Category:New Shepard uncrewed spaceflights]] [[Category:Suborbital space tourism flights]]