Blue Origin has cleared Jeff Bezos and crewmates for Tuesday’s liftoff into space.
Gatekeepers News reports that Blue Origin has concluded the flight readiness review for its first-ever crewed launch, which will send Bezos and three others to suborbital space on a vehicle called New Shepard on Tuesday (July 20).
“We’ve looked at all the vehicle systems, including hardware, software, procedures and launch crew readiness,” Blue Origin lead flight director, Steve Lanius said during a news conference on Saturday.
“We are not currently working any open issues, and New Shepard is ready to fly.”
Lanius said the weather looks like it will cooperate, explaining that there is a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, but conditions are expected to be good by launch time.
Tuesday’s mission will be the first to carry crew which consists of Bezos, who founded Blue Origin back in 2000; his brother Mark; trailblazing aviator Wally Funk; and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, the company’s first paying customer.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 82-year-old Funk will become the oldest person ever to reach space, and Daemen will be the youngest.
The four of them began their 14-hour astronaut training regimen on Sunday and will conclude it today (Monday), according to representatives of Blue Origin.
The training includes classroom instruction and practice in a test capsule, among other tasks, and concludes with mission rehearsals and a final exam.
Bezos will be the second billionaire to reach suborbital space in less than two weeks.
