Blue Origin's upcoming NS-34 mission, scheduled for August 3, 2025, from Launch Site One in West Texas, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of space tourism. This mission will be the 14th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 34th in its history, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to making space travel more accessible to the public.
The crew for this mission includes:
Arvinder (Arvi) Singh Bahal: A real estate investor and seasoned traveler, Arvi has visited every country in the world and holds a private pilot’s license.
Gökhan Erdem: A Turkish businessman and board member of Erdem Holding, Gökhan is also a passionate space enthusiast and avid photographer.
Deborah Martorell: A Puerto Rican meteorologist and journalist, Deborah has received multiple Emmy Awards for her reporting on environmental and space topics.
Lionel Pitchford: An Englishman who has spent four decades in Spain, Lionel founded a nonprofit in Nepal dedicated to serving disadvantaged children and girls.
James (J.D.) Russell: A serial entrepreneur and founder of Alpha Funds and Alpha Aerospace, J.D. is flying for the second time, having previously participated in the NS-28 mission.
H.E. Justin Sun: The founder of TRON, a leading blockchain and decentralized autonomous organization, Justin is the winning bidder for the first New Shepard seat in 2021. The proceeds from his $28 million bid benefited 19 space-focused charities to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEAM and help shape the future of life in space.
The NS-34 mission is set to lift off at 7:30 AM CDT (12:30 UTC), with a live webcast beginning 30 minutes prior to liftoff. The flight will last approximately 10 to 12 minutes, during which passengers will experience several minutes of weightlessness and witness Earth from space before returning to the Texas desert.
This mission underscores the growing interest and investment in space tourism, highlighting the potential for future commercial space travel. As Blue Origin continues to develop reusable space vehicles, the company aims to make space travel more sustainable and accessible, paving the way for a new era of exploration and innovation.