This week, Blue Origin is set to launch its ninth crewed spaceflight, NS-28, adding six more people to the growing list of private citizens who’ve experienced the edge of space.
Scheduled for Friday, November 22, the New Shepard rocket-capsule system will lift off from the company’s West Texas spaceport during a launch window starting at 10:30 a.m. EST.
The mission represents the 28th flight in the New Shepard program’s history, and the roster of passengers is a mix of science communicators, entrepeneurs and philanthropists.
Blue Origin
Meet the Crew on Blue Origin’s Next Spaceflight
Emily Calandrelli, “The Space Gal”
Emily Calandrelli is a name synonymous with science communication. An MIT-educated engineer and Emmy-nominated TV host, she’s perhaps best known to her millions of fans as @TheSpaceGal.
Emily’s career has been dedicated to making STEM accessible, particularly for young girls. As the host of Netflix‘s Emily’s Wonder Lab and the long-running science show Xploration Outer Space, she works to inspire young minds to embrace science.
“This Friday I’ll become the 100th woman to fly to space. Honored to be a bookend to this beautiful milestone,” Calandrelli said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Sharon Hagle
Sharon Hagle has been championing STEAM education for years as the founder of SpaceKids Global, a nonprofit inspiring children—especially girls—to explore space-related careers.
Her organization has reached nearly 900,000 students worldwide through projects like essay contests and science experiments sent to the International Space Station.
This will be Hagle’s second trip to space with Blue Origin—she previously flew with her husband, Marc, on NS-20 in 2022, becoming the first married couple to launch on a commercial spacecraft.
Marc Hagle
Accompanying Sharon is her husband, Marc Hagle, a real estate magnate and philanthropist.
Marc is the CEO of Tricor International, a property company based in Florida.
Blue Origin
Austin Litteral
For Austin Litteral, the journey to space is the culmination of a childhood dream. A risk management professional and father of two, Austin won his seat through Whatnot’s “Whatnot to the Moon” giveaway.
James (J.D.) Russell
Entrepreneur J.D. Russell is the founder of InfoHOA and the Victoria Russell Foundation, the latter of which supports children’s education and was set up in memory of his late daughter.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Russell was a federal law enforcement Marine, Fish, and Wildlife Game Warden.
Henry (Hank) Wolfond
Canadian business leader Henry Wolfond rounds out the crew.
A skilled pilot with licenses for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, Hank balances his corporate role as Chairman and CEO of Bayshore Capital with philanthropy.
Blue Origin, founded by Amazon‘s Jeff Bezos, is a versatile player in the space industry, extending far beyond space tourism. The company collaborates with NASA on key projects, including humanity’s ambitious return to the moon.
The crewed flights aboard the New Shepard rocket cross the Kármán line—62 miles above Earth—marking the boundary of space.
During their brief journey, passengers can unbuckle and experience the magic of weightlessness, floating above the planet with a view few ever see.
These suborbital flights last just 11 minutes, culminating in a controlled parachute descent back to Earth.
The price of admission to this once-in-a-lifetime experience isn’t for the faint of heart, with tickets costing upwards of $1 million, according to Spaceflight Now.
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