# RSS First Step

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RSS_First_Step
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RSS_First_Step.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_First_Step
> Source revision: 1349699157
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Blue Origin New Shepard capsule}}

{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:RSS ''First Step''}}
{{infobox individual space vehicle
|name = RSS ''First Step''
|type = [Space capsule](/source/Space_capsule)
|class = [New Shepard crew capsule](/source/New_Shepard)
|owner = [Blue Origin](/source/Blue_Origin)
|manufacturer = Blue Origin
|rocket = [New Shepard](/source/New_Shepard)
|location = [Van Horn, Texas](/source/Van_Horn%2C_Texas)
|first_flight_date = 14 January 2021
|first_flight = Blue Origin NS-14
|last_flight_date = Active
|last_flight = 
|flights = 16
|previous = [RSS ''H.G. Wells''](/source/New_Shepard)
|next = [RSS ''Kármán Line''](/source/RSS_K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_Line)
}}

'''RSS ''First Step''''' ('''Reusable Space Ship ''First Step''''') is a [New Shepard](/source/New_Shepard) [space capsule](/source/space_capsule), built and operated by American spaceflight company [Blue Origin](/source/Blue_Origin).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burghardt |first=Thomas |date=2021-01-14 |title=Blue Origin tests New Shepard capsule upgrades on NS-14 mission |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/blue-origin-test-upgrades-ns-14/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It is the third New Shepard capsule to fly to space, and the first to fly passengers. Its first flight was the NS-14 mission, which reached an altitude of {{cvt|107|km}} on 14 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-14 |title=Blue Origin's New Shepard spaceship aces uncrewed rehearsal for crewed space trips |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/blue-origins-new-shepard-spaceship-aces-uncrewed-rehearsal-crewed-flight-space/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==

RSS ''First Step'' is the third [New Shepard](/source/New_Shepard) capsule built by [Blue Origin](/source/Blue_Origin), and the first designed to carry passengers. It flew to space for the first time on 14 January 2021, during the NS-14 spaceflight. NS-14 also served as the maiden flight of the NS4 propulsion module.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission NS-14 |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/events/ns-14 |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Blue Origin |language=en}}</ref> The following flight, NS-15, which was also flown uncrewed by ''First Step'' and NS4, tested boarding and deboarding in what Blue Origin called an "astronaut operational exercise."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=2021-04-14 |title=Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches and lands rocket New Shepard, as it prepares to launch people |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/watch-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-new-shepard-ns-15-livestream.html |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

''First Step'' flew Blue Origin's [first crewed flight](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-16) on 20 July 2021, carrying founder [Jeff Bezos](/source/Jeff_Bezos) and three other passengers to space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=2021-07-20 |title=Blue Origin successfully sends Jeff Bezos and three others to space and back |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/20/22582735/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-space-launch-landing |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> This made Texas the fourth state to launch humans into space,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leinfelder |first=Andrea |date=2021-07-20 |title=With Jeff Bezos on board, Blue Origin launches first crewed spaceflight from West Texas |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-west-texas-launch-rocket-16326221.php |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref> after Florida, California, and New Mexico. As of November 2022, it has flown five subsequent crewed spaceflights, carrying a total of 31 people into space, including one (Evan Dick) twice.

The New Shepard fleet was grounded from September 2022 until December 2023 due to a failure during the [NS-23](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-23) mission. The capsule used during the mission, RSS ''H.G. Wells'', managed to abort successfully, while the booster was destroyed. The next mission [NS-24](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-24) (uncrewed) and the next crewed mission [NS-25](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-25) took place following an investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin rocket malfunctions, triggers dramatic but safe abort for unpiloted New Shepard capsule |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-origin-rocket-malfunctions-triggers-dramatic-but-safe-abort-for-unpiloted-new-shepard-capsule/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=12 September 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Flights ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Mission
! Launch date (UTC)
! Landing date (UTC)
! Crew
! Duration
! Remarks
! Outcome
|-
| NS-14
| 14 January 2021
| 14 January 2021
| Uncrewed
| ~10 minutes
| style="text-align:left" |Uncrewed test flight. Maiden flight of NS4 propulsion module.
| {{Success}}
|-
| NS-15
| 14 April 2021
| 14 April 2021
| Uncrewed
| ~10 minutes
| style="text-align:left" |Uncrewed test flight. Passenger process test conducted. Four Blue Origin employees serve as stand-in passengers.
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-16](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-16)
| 20 July 2021,
13:11
| 20 July 2021,
13:21
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Jeff Bezos](/source/Jeff_Bezos) | {{Flagicon|USA}} [Mark Bezos](/source/Mark_Bezos) | {{Flagicon|USA}} [Wally Funk](/source/Wally_Funk) | {{Flagicon|NED}} [Oliver Daemen](/source/Oliver_Daemen)}}
| 10 minutes, 18 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |First crewed flight of the New Shepard vehicle and first crewed spaceflight from Texas. Carried Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-20 |title=Jeff Bezos launches to space aboard New Shepard rocket ship |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57849364 |access-date=2022-04-03}}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-18](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-18)
| 13 October 2021,
14:49
| 13 October 2021,
14:59
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Audrey Powers](/source/Audrey_Powers) | {{Flagicon|AUS}} Chris Boshuizen|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Glen de Vries](/source/Glen_de_Vries) | {{Flagicon|CAN}} [William Shatner](/source/William_Shatner)}}
| 10 minutes, 17 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Second crewed flight of New Shepard. Carried actor William Shatner and three other paying passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin successfully and safely completes second human flight to space and back |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-18-mission-updates |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Blue Origin |language=en}}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-19](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-19)
| 11 December 2021,
15:00
| 11 December 2021,
15:10
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} Laura Shepard Churchley|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Michael Strahan](/source/Michael_Strahan) | {{Flagicon|USA}} [Dylan Taylor](/source/Dylan_Taylor_(executive)) | {{Flagicon|USA}} Evan Dick|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Lane Bess](/source/Lane_Bess) | {{Flagicon|USA}} Cameron Bess}}
| 10 minutes, 13 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Third crewed flight of New Shepard. First fully crewed New Shepard spaceflight. Carried Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of [Alan Shepard](/source/Alan_Shepard), for whom the vehicle is named after, football player and ''[Good Morning America](/source/Good_Morning_America)'' host Michael Strahan, and four other paying passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Completes Third Human Spaceflight |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-19-mission-updates |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Blue Origin |language=en}}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-20](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-20)
| 31 March 2022,
13:57
| 31 March 2022,
14:07
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} Marty Allen|{{Flagicon|USA}} Sharon Hagle|{{Flagicon|USA}} Marc Hagle|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Jim Kitchen](/source/Jim_Kitchen)|{{Flagicon|USA}} George Nield|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Gary Lai](/source/Gary_Lai)}}
| 10 minutes, 4 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Fourth crewed flight of New Shepard. Comedian [Pete Davidson](/source/Pete_Davidson) was originally expected to be on board, but was unable to fly due to a launch date change. Davidson was replaced by New Shepard chief architect Gary Lai. Five other paying passengers were on board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin's 20th Mission to Space |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-20-mission-announcement |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Blue Origin |language=en}}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-21](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-21)
| 4 June 2022, 13:25
| 4 June 2022, 13:35
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} Evan Dick|{{Flagicon|USA}} Katya Echazarreta|{{Flagicon|UK}} [Hamish Harding](/source/Hamish_Harding) | {{Flagicon|BRA}} Victor Correa Hespanha|{{Flagicon|USA}} Jaison Robinson|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Victor Vescovo](/source/Victor_Vescovo)}}
| 10 minutes, 5 seconds<ref name="ns21-times">{{cite tweet |author-link=Blue Origin |user=blueorigin |number=1533088492355567616 |title=Official launch time was 8:25:02 AM CDT / 13:25:02 UTC. Capsule landing occurred at 8:35:07 AM CDT / 13:35:07 UTC. |date=4 June 2022 |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Fifth crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included [NS-19](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-19) crew member Evan Dick, and undersea explorer [Victor Vescovo](/source/Victor_Vescovo).<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Shepard Mission NS-21 to Fly Six Customer Astronauts, Including First Mexican-Born Woman to Visit Space |url=https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-mission-ns-21-to-fly-six-customer-astronauts-including-first-mexican-born-woman-to-visit-space/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240903124151/https://spacenews.com/new-shepard-mission-ns-21-to-fly-six-customer-astronauts-including-first-mexican-born-woman-to-visit-space/|archive-date=2024-09-03|access-date=2022-05-09 |website=www.spacenews.com |date=9 May 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-22](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-22)
| 4 August 2022, 13:56
| 4 August 2022, 14:06
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Coby Cotton](/source/Coby_Cotton)|{{Flagicon|Portugal}} [Mário Ferreira](/source/M%C3%A1rio_Ferreira) | {{Flagicon|USA}} Vanessa O'Brian| {{Flagicon|USA}} Clint Kelly III|{{Flagicon|Egypt}} [Sara Sabry](/source/Sara_Sabry)| {{Flagicon|USA}} Steve Young}}
| 10 minutes, 22 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Sixth crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included first Portuguese person and first Egyptian person in space.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Egyptian and Portuguese Astronauts to join Dude Perfect Cofounder on New Shepard's 22nd Flight |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-22-mission-announcement |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US}}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
| [NS-25](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-25)
| 19 May 2024, 14:35
| 19 May 2024, 14:45
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} [Kenneth Hess](/source/Kenneth_Hess)|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Sylvain Chiron | {{Flagicon|USA}} Mason Angel| {{Flagicon|USA}} [Ed Dwight](/source/Ed_Dwight)|{{Flagicon|USA}} Carol Schaller| {{Flagicon|IND}} Gopi Thotakura}}
|9 minutes, 53 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Seventh crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included [Ed Dwight](/source/Ed_Dwight), the [oldest person to reach space](/source/List_of_spaceflight_records).<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Shepard's 25th Mission Includes America's First Black Astronaut Candidate |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-25-mission-announcement |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US}}</ref>
| {{Success}}
|-
|[NS-26](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-26)
|29 August 2024, 13:07
|29 August 2024, 13:17
|{{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|UK}} {{flagicon|Singapore}}<ref>Elrick is a permanent resident of Singapore, and intends to become a [Singapore citizen](/source/Singaporean_nationality_law).</ref> Nicolina Elrick|{{flagicon|US}} Rob Ferl|{{flagicon|UKR}} Eugene Grin|{{flagicon|IRN}} {{flagicon|US}} Eiman Jahangir|{{flagicon|US}} Karsen Kitchen|{{flagicon|US}} {{flagicon|ISR}} Ephraim Rabin}}
|10 minutes, 8 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Eight crewed flight of New Shepard. Crew included Karsen Kitchen, the youngest woman to cross the Kármán line (100 km) at 21 years old. 
|{{Success}}
|-
|[NS-28](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-28)
|22 November 2024, 15:30
|22 November 2024, 15:40
|{{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|US}} [Emily Calandrelli](/source/Emily_Calandrelli)|{{flagicon|US}} Sharon Hagle (2)|{{flagicon|US}} Marc Hagle (2)|{{flagicon|US}} Austin Litteral|{{flagicon|US}} J. D. Russell|[James (J.D.) Russell](/source/J._D._Russell)|{{flagicon|CAN}} Henry (Hank) Wolfond}}
|10 minutes, 8 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Ninth crewed flight of New Shepard.
|{{Success}}
|-
|[NS-30](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-30)
|25 February 2025, 15:49
|25 February 2025, 15:59
|{{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|US}} [Lane Bess](/source/Lane_Bess) (2)|{{flagicon|SPA}} [Jesús Calleja](/source/Jes%C3%BAs_Calleja)|{{Flagicon|India}} {{flagicon|US}} Tushar Shah|{{Flagicon|US}} Dr. Richard Scott|{{flagicon|Australia}}<ref>Chia was born and raise in Singapore, but Singapore [does not allow dual citizenship](/source/Singaporean_nationality_law).</ref> Elaine Chia Hyde|{{flagicon|Australia}} Russell Wilson}}
|10 minutes, 8 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. Tenth crewed flight of New Shepard.
|{{Success}}
|-
|[NS-32](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-32)
|31 May 2025, 13:39
|31 May 2025, 13:49
|{{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} Paul Jeris|{{flagicon|CAN}} Jesse Williams|{{flagicon|Puerto Rico}}|Aymette (Amy) Medina Jorge| {{Flagicon|USA}} Dr. Gretchen Green| {{flagicon|PAN}} [Jaime Alemán](/source/Jaime_Alem%C3%A1n)| {{flagicon|NZ}} [Mark Rocket](/source/Mark_Rocket)}}
|10 minutes, 7 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. 12th crewed flight of New Shepard.
|{{Success}}
|-
|[NS-34](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-34)
|3 August 2025, 12:42
|3 August 2025, 12:52
|{{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} Arvinder (Arvi) Singh Bahal|{{Flagicon|Turkey}} Gökhan Erdem|{{Flagicon|Puerto Rico}} Deborah Martorell| {{Flagicon|UK}} Lionel Pitchford | {{Flagicon|USA}} [James (J.D.) Russell](/source/J._D._Russell)| {{Flagicon|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} [Justin Sun](/source/Justin_Sun)}}
|10 minutes, 14 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. 14th crewed flight of New Shepard.
|{{Success}}
|-
|[NS-36](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-36)
|8 October 2025, 13:40
|8 October 2025, 13:50
|{{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|USA}} Clint Kelly III|{{Flagicon|USA}} Aaron Newman|{{Flagicon|USA}} Jeff Elgin| {{Flagicon|UKR}} Vitalii Ostrovsky| {{Flagicon|KAZ}} Danna Karagussova| {{Flagicon|USA}} William H. Lewis}}
|10 minutes, 21 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. 15th crewed flight of New Shepard.
|{{Success}}
|-
|[NS-38](/source/Blue_Origin_NS-38)
|22 January 2026, 16:25
|22 January 2026, 16:35
|{{Unbulleted list|Tim Drexler|Linda Edwards|Alain Fernandez| Alberto Gutiérrez|  Jim Hendren| Laura Stiles}}
|10 minutes, 12 seconds
| style="text-align:left" |Space tourism mission. 17th crewed flight of New Shepard.
|{{Success}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Portal bar|spaceflight}}
{{Blue Origin}}

Category:Individual spacecraft
Category:Crewed spacecraft
Category:Blue Origin
Category:New Shepard
Category:Space tourism

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RSS First Step](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_First_Step) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_First_Step?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.