Blue Origin New Shepard Mission Launch 19 Dec. 2023

Summary

New Shepard's 24th flight successfully launched from West Texas, showcasing the BE-3 engine's power and the vehicle's ascent to space. The mission featured microgravity experiments, aerodynamic control during re-entry, and a precise landing. The reusable propulsion module demonstrated operational reusability with a feathered thrust landing, inspiring future space exploration and inviting viewers to join the journey.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Liftoff: The script describes the launch of New Shepard, a spacecraft, with the BE-3 engine providing 100% power.
• 📈 Max Q: The spacecraft experiences maximum aerodynamic stress during the Max Q phase, where the engine throttles back temporarily.
• 🔝 Altitude Gain: New Shepard climbs to an altitude of 145,000 ft before the main engine cuts off.
• 🔄 Vehicle Separation: The crew capsule separates from the booster, entering a phase of microgravity, crucial for scientific experiments.
• 🧪 Microgravity Science: The script highlights the importance of microgravity for various experiments, including fluid physics and gene expression in plants and cells.
• 🌌 Stunning Views: The video provides a view of the Earth from space, showcasing the unique perspective of the mission.
• 🛬 Re-entry and Landing: The booster and crew capsule return to Earth, with the booster demonstrating reusability through a controlled landing.
• 🔄 Reusability: The booster's successful landing marks its ninth flight, emphasizing the operational reusability of the system.
• 🛰️ Aerodynamics: The use of aerodynamic control surfaces, such as air brakes and forward fins, is crucial for slowing down and steering the spacecraft during re-entry.
• 🌟 Sonic Boom: The script mentions the possibility of hearing a sonic boom as the spacecraft breaks the sound barrier during re-entry.
• 🎉 Successful Touchdown: Both the booster and the crew capsule land safely in West Texas, with the booster showcasing a 'hovering land' technique.

Q & A

What is the primary engine used in the New Shepard vehicle?

The primary engine used in the New Shepard vehicle is the BE-3 engine, which provides 100% power level during the ascent.

At what point during the launch does the BE-3 engine throttle back?

The BE-3 engine throttles back when the vehicle approaches Max Q, which is the point where aerodynamic stress on the vehicle is at its maximum.

What does Max Q represent in the context of the launch?

Max Q represents the point during the launch where the dynamic pressure, and thus the aerodynamic stress on the vehicle, is at its peak.

How is the vehicle's velocity indicated during the ascent?

The vehicle's velocity is indicated by a velocity ticker on the left side of the screen, which shows an increase as the vehicle gains altitude and the air gets thinner.

What is the significance of the propulsion module moving away from Earth?

The propulsion module moving away from Earth signifies the separation of the propulsion module from the crew capsule, which is a crucial step in the mission before entering the microgravity phase.

What phase of the mission does the vehicle enter after the separation of the propulsion module and the crew capsule?

After the separation, the vehicle enters the phase of microgravity, where most of the scientific payloads conduct their experiments in a free-fall environment.

How does the absence of gravity affect the behavior of fluids in space?

In the absence of gravity, fluid behavior is dominated by surface tension rather than gravity, leading to different patterns of capillary action and fluid flow.

What is the purpose of the drag brakes during the vehicle's descent?

The drag brakes are deployed to slow down the vehicle by increasing the surface area exposed to the atmosphere, similar to the function of air brakes on a shuttle or aircraft.

What is the purpose of the forward fins on the propulsion module?

The forward fins on the propulsion module are deployed to help steer the booster as it re-enters the atmosphere and guides it towards the landing pad.

How does the BE-3 engine assist with the booster's landing?

The BE-3 engine is relit at low altitude, providing the necessary thrust to slow down the booster for a controlled, hovering landing.

What is the role of the main parachutes during the crew capsule's descent?

The main parachutes are deployed to slow the crew capsule's descent, reducing its velocity to a safe speed for a gentle touchdown.

What additional system is used to ensure a smooth landing for the crew capsule?

A retro thrust system is used in conjunction with the parachutes to further reduce the landing speed and create a cushion of air for a soft landing.

What is the significance of the booster's successful landing and reusability?

The successful landing and reusability of the booster demonstrate the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the New Shepard system, as it can be launched multiple times.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 New Shepard's Ascent and Mission Milestones

The script describes the launch sequence of New Shepard, a spacecraft designed for suborbital space tourism. The mission begins with liftoff, confirmed by Mission Control, and the spacecraft ascends, gaining speed and altitude. The B3 engine operates at full power, throttling back during Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic stress. Post-Max Q, the engine returns to full power, and the spacecraft accelerates as the atmosphere thins. The script mentions the separation of the propulsion module and the entry into microgravity, where scientific experiments can be conducted. The mission's next phase involves the main engine cut off and vehicle separation, leading to a coast through microgravity, allowing for unique scientific insights into fluid dynamics and gene expression in the absence of gravity.

05:02

🛰️ Re-entry and Landing of New Shepard

This paragraph details the re-entry and landing process of New Shepard. As the spacecraft re-enters the thicker atmosphere, aerodynamic control surfaces, including air brakes, are deployed to slow down the vehicle. The script discusses the critical role of these air brakes in reducing velocity and preparing for landing. It also describes the deployment of forward fins on the propulsion module and the booster's re-entry at high speed, pulling multiple G-forces. The booster's successful landing is highlighted, showcasing the reusability of the system. The script concludes with the crew capsule's descent, the deployment of main parachutes, and the use of a retro thrust system for a smooth landing, emphasizing the successful completion of the mission.

10:10

🎉 Successful Mission Completion and Future Opportunities

The final paragraph celebrates the successful completion of New Shepard's 24th flight, highlighting the journey of the crew capsule and its payloads, which included science and education projects, particularly those designed by students. The script thanks the customers and sponsors, such as MIT and NASA, for their contributions to the mission. It provides a recap of the mission's key events, including the nominal boost, hypergravity phase, microgravity experimentation, and the nominal landing of both vehicles. The script ends with an invitation for viewers to join the team at Blue Origin, mentioning job opportunities and the option to purchase a seat on New Shepard for future flights.

Keywords

💡BE-3 Engine

The BE-3 engine is a hydrogen-fueled rocket engine developed by Blue Origin. It is designed to provide 100% power level during the ascent phase of the New Shepard spacecraft's flight, as mentioned in the script when it states 'the be3 engine providing, 100% power level.' The engine is crucial for propelling the spacecraft through the atmosphere and into space, showcasing its importance in the mission's success.

💡Max Q

Max Q refers to the point during a rocket's ascent when it experiences the maximum dynamic pressure, which is a critical stress test for the vehicle. In the script, it is mentioned as 'approach Max Q,' indicating the moment when the aerodynamic stress on the vehicle is at its peak. The BE-3 engine throttles back during this phase to manage the stress, highlighting the engineering considerations in spacecraft design.

💡Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Mean Sea Level is a standard reference level for measuring altitude, used in the script to describe the initial altitude of the launch site: 'we started at about 3700 ft MSL.' This term is important for understanding the starting point of the spacecraft's journey and the environmental conditions at the launch site.

💡Microgravity

Microgravity is the condition experienced in space where gravitational forces are significantly reduced, allowing objects to float. The script describes this phase as 'entering that phase of microgravity' when the vehicle separation occurs. This environment is crucial for conducting scientific experiments, as it provides a unique platform for research that cannot be replicated on Earth.

💡Aerobraking

Aerobraking is a technique used to slow down a spacecraft by using atmospheric drag. The script mentions 'air brakes deploying' during the descent phase, which is a critical step to reduce the velocity of the spacecraft. This process is essential for a controlled and safe re-entry into the atmosphere.

💡Aerocapture

Aerocapture, while not explicitly mentioned in the script, is a related concept to aerobraking and refers to the use of a planet's atmosphere to capture a spacecraft into orbit. It's a technique that could be inferred from the discussion of atmospheric interactions during the flight.

💡Drag Brakes

Drag brakes are devices used to increase drag and slow down a vehicle, as described in the script when it says 'the drag brakes should cut the Velocity in about half.' They are deployed during the descent phase of the mission to control the spacecraft's velocity before landing.

💡Retro Thrust System

The Retro Thrust System is a mechanism that uses high-pressure gas to create a cushion of air for a soft landing, as mentioned in the script: 'that retro thrust system is, effectively high pressure gas.' This system is essential for the final phase of the descent, ensuring a gentle touchdown of the crew capsule.

💡Aerodynamic Control Surfaces

Aerodynamic control surfaces are used to maneuver a spacecraft by altering its attitude and trajectory through the atmosphere. The script refers to these when discussing 'aerodynamic control surfaces' and the deployment of air brakes and forward fins, which are crucial for controlling the spacecraft's descent and landing.

💡Parachutes

Parachutes are deployed from the crew capsule to slow its descent and ensure a gentle landing, as described in the script: 'we've got main parachutes.' They are an essential safety feature, reducing the terminal velocity of the capsule to a safe speed for landing.

💡Reusability

Reusability refers to the ability of a spacecraft component to be used multiple times without being replaced. The script highlights this concept when mentioning 'the ninth flight for this booster,' emphasizing the operational reusability of the system and its cost and environmental benefits.

Highlights

Liftoff of the New Shepard spacecraft, confirming successful launch from Mission Control.

New Shepard clears the tower and begins its ascent to space.

The BE-3 engine operates at 100% power level during the initial ascent.

Approaching Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic stress, with the BE-3 engine throttling back temporarily.

Post Max Q, the BE-3 engine throttles back up to full power as the atmosphere thins.

Vehicle separation occurs just over 2 minutes into the boost, reaching approximately 2200 mph.

Entering microgravity phase, enabling science payloads to conduct experiments in free fall.

Discussion on the importance of fluid physics in microgravity and its applications.

The capsule reaches its maximum altitude of 351,000 feet before beginning its descent.

Deployment of air brakes to slow the vehicle down during re-entry.

Use of aerodynamic control surfaces to guide the vehicle towards the landing pad.

The booster's successful re-entry at Mach 3 and pulling about 5 Gs.

Be-3 engine relight at 2,000 ft. for a controlled descent to the landing pad.

Landing gear deployment and booster touchdown, showcasing the reusability of the system.

Crew capsule's final descent with main parachutes deployed for a gentle landing.

Retro thrust system activation for a smooth landing of the crew capsule.

Successful landing of the 24th flight for New Shepard, with a focus on science and education payloads.

Invitation to join Blue Origin's team and information on available positions.

Details on how to purchase a seat on New Shepard for future flights.

Recap of the mission's success and anticipation for the next crewed flight.

Transcripts

we have is of our be3

engine and

liftoff Mission Control confirms that

new Shephard has cleared the tower and

is headed to space you can see on the

lower left side of your screen that

we're gaining speed as new Shepherd

gains altitude the atmosphere gets

thinner the graph on the left shows

vehicle asent now we actually started at

about 3700 ft MSL that's how far above

mean sea level we are at launch site one

how exciting Erica a great shot there of

the PM the propulsion module moving away

from Earth that be3 engine providing

100% power level and here shortly we

will approach Max Q this again is the

point where aerodynamic stress on the

vehicle is at its maximum so the B3

engine will throttle back for a little

bit as we Pierce through the

atmosphere

now that we've passed Max Q be3 will

begin to throttle back up to 100% power

level we'll see that velocity Ticker on

the left of your screen start to

increase more rapidly as the air gets

thinner new Shepherd is moving faster

and faster absolutely you can also see

that engine plume start to expand as we

get into into that thinner High upper

atmosphere such a cool shot

there so just over 2 minutes of boost

for the be3 engine before we reach the

next stage of our mission Mo main engine

cut off that will be the next Milestone

we'll

see

new Shepard continues to climb 145,000

ft there it is main engine cut off just

over 2200 milph and soon vehicle

separation always love seeing us Coast

through

Mo now when the vehicles separate in the

crew capsule from the booster uh we're

going to be entering that phase of

microgravity and you can see that Zerg

indicator at the bottom of your screen

this is really where most of our

payloads are getting into the core of

their science Mission oh what a

fantastic view all sorts of cool

experiments here enabled in microgravity

in freef Fall items don't sink or float

hot air doesn't rise plants and cells

respond to this novel stimulus with

different patterns of gene expression

which gives us new insights for

agricultural Technologies and Medicine

yeah we talked earlier about the

importance of fluid physics because

fluid flow on the ground dominated by

gravity the liquid at the bottom of your

cup but in space it's dominated by

surface tension which leads to all sorts

of cool effects with capillary action uh

and these effects are relevant for

everything from drinking coffee to

refueling satellites to the

microfluidics in your medical

Diagnostics incredible and I'm sure the

payloads are are enjoying all of the

clean very clean microgravity data that

they're collecting at this

time and loving that view back down on

the clouds over West Texas now if you

watch that Ticker on the lower left

corner you see we are slowly counting

down in our velocity to zero that's the

vertical velocity of the system and when

we reach zero that's when we've reached

apogee

and fantastic capsule pausing in its

upward Journey just momentarily apig for

the capsulle at

351,000 tion module returning back to

the west Texas

desert so as we come back down and the

atmosphere begins to get thicker again

we start to have the ability to use our

aerodynamic control surfaces uh what

you'll be seeing next is the air brakes

deploying this is a critical step in

slowing the vehicle down increasing the

surface area just like a bad mitton

shuttle coock or something that's uh

helping you to come down through the

through the upper atmosphere we're going

to see that the velocity starts to

decrease with those air brakes out in

fact the drag brakes should cut the

Velocity in about half so we'll be

looking for that uh picking up hopefully

with the cameras the long range cameras

and seeing those drag brakes deploy as

the propulsion module cuts through the

atmosphere those are the forward fins

deploying there on the right a great

view looking up from the propulsion

module into space and seeing those

forward fins

deploying you can see the capsule

passing by just there on the right hand

screen well above the booster at this

altitude what a great video shot I love

seeing this those are experiments our

customers today getting their

microgravity data

in so that booster coming in at about

Mach 3 uh pulling at about five GS as it

re-enters the atmosphere so we're going

to be seeing that that velocity decrease

rapidly at this

point and this is one of my favorite

parts of observing a mission from West

Texas those are the drag breakes there

they are

deployed and we see those Ain steering

the booster Over The Landing

Pad yeah if you're in West Texas you may

be hearing a sonic boom uh coming up

here as we break through the sound

barrier be3 engine relight just 2,000 ft

to grow before The Landing

Pad landing gear

deploying love that shot I can't tell

you how many people have told us they

thought that this looks like uh CGI but

indeed one of these most beautiful shots

in the west Texas desert and we have

booster touchdown congratulations new

Shephard propulsion module and the be3

engine for providing just the right

feathered thrust to come in for the nice

hovering land and again that's the ninth

flight for this booster really showing

the the operational reusability of this

system and how many times we can get

back to space well Erica we've just

safely landed the booster now we're

about to watch the crew capsule make its

final descent back to the west Texas

desert in parallel the team will vent

the propellants any remaining

propellants from the propulsion module

and begin safe recovery operations so

that we can prepare it for its next

mission well these shots are incredible

we've got the Sierra Diablo mountains in

the background um some yakas and some

choas and of course a world class

propulsion module booster on a landing

pad this is awesome yeah it's a

pleasantly toasty marshmallow having

come right back from space I absolutely

love being out in the desert and just

standing next to a rocket that just that

morning flew up to space and back

absolutely amazing and the thermal

protection system oh there we go we've

got main parachutes three main

parachutes on the crew capsule as it

makes its descent back from space to

Earth those parachutes reefed when

they're first uh let out and then

expanding to their full diameter now the

parachutes are essential in providing a

gentle touchdown for the crew capsule

but we also have a retro thrust system

on the bottom of the capsule that makes

that Landing even smoother so as we're

coming down nice slow velocity right

around 1,600 ft we're going to be

looking for that retro thrust system as

we get closer to the desert floor and

Erica this retro thrust system is

effectively high pressure gas um that is

fired off to make a cushion of air uh

soft Landing for the crew capsule but it

kicks up some

dust

such gorgeous scenery such a gorgeous

crew capsule and again there's

parachutes doing their job taking us

down to just about 15 miles per hour the

Retro thrust system will take us down to

just one or two miles an hour as we get

down to the the base of the desert

floor

there it is TouchDown for ns24 and our

33 customers and

38,000 postcards what a journey special

thank you to all of our customers flying

important science and education on board

today especially to all the students who

designed and built experiments want to

shout out uh to our friends out at MIT

the University of Central Florida ps15

in Brooklyn aiaa asgsr our sponsors at

Nasa so many cool things going on on

board today on board today there on the

capsule yeah no you inspire us every day

thank you for being our customers if we

could just do a quick recap here Erica

looked like a nominal boost for the

propulsion module and crew capsule

combined some hypergravity there for our

payloads and then a clean separation

over 180 seconds of clean microgravity

for our payload customers and two

vehicles appearing to land nominally

here back in West Texas I would call

this the best day uh at work for me this

is awesome always love launch days Eddie

just it brings a smile to everybody's

face um if what you saw here today

inspired you please come help us build a

road to space we have hundreds of

positions open across all our facilities

and have a particular need for

machinists and programmers in Florida

and Alabama please visit our website for

more details and of course if you'd like

to purchase a seat on new Shepard you

can go to Blue origin.com click the fly

to space button in the upper right hand

corner following a thorough review of

today's Mission we look forward to

Flying our next crude flight soon my

name is Erica Wagner for Salt Flat Eddie

and everybody here at Blue origin thanks

for tuning in to new Shepard's 24th

Flight happy holidays and gradam

focer