Blue Origin

This astronaut crossed the Kármán Line (100 km), the internationally accepted boundary of space.

Crossed Kármán Line

Jim Hendren is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former F-15 fighter pilot, and past Commander of the 157th Combat Operations Squadron, with multiple overseas combat deployments. Additionally, Jim is the founder of Hendren Plastics Inc., a global manufacturing company. A Master Electrician, General Contractor, FAA-licensed airline pilot, and dedicated public servant, he spent 15 years on the Gravette School Board and served in both chambers of the Arkansas Legislature, including as Senate President Pro Tempore. A father of four and grandfather of twelve, Jim views his New Shepard flight as a natural extension of his lifelong passion for aviation, exploration, and service. Courtesy of Blue Origin.

NS-38

Blue Origin launched a New Shepard crewed mission to suborbital space.

Named after the first American to reach space, Alan Shepard, the New Shepard rocket is powered by a single Blue Origin-developed engine for both launch and landing.

New Shepard

Jim Hendren

United States of America

Alberto Gutiérrez is an entrepreneur, technologist, and world traveler who has visited more than 100 countries across all seven continents. In 2008, he began writing travel guides, which evolved into Civitatis, a leading tours and activities platform serving over one million travelers per month. His voyage on New Shepard offers a new vantage point from which to appreciate the world he has spent a lifetime exploring. Courtesy of Blue Origin.

Alberto Gutiérrez

Nation Undisclosed

Tim Drexler is the former owner and CEO of Ace Asphalt, where he spent 40 years building the family business into a major civil contracting firm. In 2002, he was recognized with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. After selling the company, Tim pursued his passion for aviation, becoming both a helicopter and airplane pilot. Outside the cockpit, he is an avid gardener, cook, mountain biker, and home-automation enthusiast. Tim has been married to his wife, Pam, for 19 years. Traveling to space will be Tim's next great leap in aviation. Courtesy of Blue Origin.

Timothy Drexler

Alain Fernandez is an international real estate developer and investor whose three-decade career reflects resilience, discipline, and a relentless drive to carve his own path after a difficult apprenticeship in industrial mechanics. His early years as a scuba instructor across Europe and French Polynesia were marked by a life-altering diving accident at age 22, after which he rebuilt his career through perseverance and entrepreneurial instinct. A dedicated athlete, Alain lives with his wife, stepdaughter, and a lively family of pets. He approaches his New Shepard mission as another opportunity to push himself and explore what’s possible. Courtesy of Blue Origin.

Alain Fernandez

Dr. Linda Edwards is a retired board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist whose 40-year career was dedicated to caring for women. While working full-time after high school, she earned her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Penn State University and later her medical degree from The Medical College of Pennsylvania. A traveler to more than 40 countries, wildlife advocate, award-winning equestrian, and two-time breast cancer survivor, she embraces her flight on New Shepard as the fulfillment of a dream four decades in the making for her. She hopes her flight helps to inspire other women to reach for their dreams. Courtesy of Blue Origin.

Dr. Linda Edwards

Dr. Laura Stiles is an aerospace engineer and senior manager at Blue Origin, the private spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos. She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics with a focus on aerospace systems from the University of Kansas, followed by a master’s degree and PhD in aerospace engineering sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder. At Blue Origin, she has worked in mechanical systems design, integrated vehicle testing, launch operations, and technical and program leadership, and she is part of the senior team for the New Shepard suborbital program where she also serves as CrewMember 7, supporting astronaut training and mission execution. In addition to her engineering and leadership work, she is known for mentoring early career engineers and is an accomplished skydiver and adventurer with national level competition experience and world records.

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