Watching the New Shepard suborbital flight with William Shatner
I have embedded the live stream of the Blue Origin suborbital flight today of its New Shepard spacecraft, carrying four passengers including William Shatner.
The launch is presently scheduled for 7 am (Pacific). The live stream will start about 5:30 am (Pacific).
As I have noted previously, the announcers for Blue Origin tend to blather quite a bit, hyping the situation to a point of nausea. Hopefully during the flight they will shut up and allow the voices of the passengers to take center stage.
I meanwhile will be on the road during the flight. I will try to post updates as well as my normal news stories, but both might have to wait until I return home in the early afternoon. Regardless, the live stream is below for you to enjoy.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I have embedded the live stream of the Blue Origin suborbital flight today of its New Shepard spacecraft, carrying four passengers including William Shatner.
The launch is presently scheduled for 7 am (Pacific). The live stream will start about 5:30 am (Pacific).
As I have noted previously, the announcers for Blue Origin tend to blather quite a bit, hyping the situation to a point of nausea. Hopefully during the flight they will shut up and allow the voices of the passengers to take center stage.
I meanwhile will be on the road during the flight. I will try to post updates as well as my normal news stories, but both might have to wait until I return home in the early afternoon. Regardless, the live stream is below for you to enjoy.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
not a huge fan of the announcer girl on the left (Ariana?) although I’m sure she’s a nice person.
Tribute to Jack King (1921-2015
https://youtu.be/B-5CffGXFlo
1:35
I hope none of the crew wears a red shirt.
Shatners uniform should have been gold.
They need to check to ground crew for anyone named “Zefram Cochrane” and any last minute modifications he might have made.
Welcome back, Captain. That was fun to watch.
The announcer, bless her heart, is meh…
I think Shatner is making the case for taking a longer flight.
Shatner had some emotional words.
I was amazed at how quick the whole trip is.
The whole astronaut thing is tiresome. Seems like an astronaut participation trophy to me.
He definitely seems emotional after his flight. I wish the audio was better.
I have no doubt that he will give interviews about it later. After all, that is one of the reasons Bezos wanted him to fly.
I know the announcers are BO employees, and as such, are pushing the “astronaut” thing.
They are stretching the popular definition.
They are passengers. Space Passengers, but passengers none the less.
I’m glad Mr. Shatner enjoyed the ride. I wondered if it was difficult for him to climb the stairway up to the capsule.
I was a little disappointed that there was no live recording from the capsule. Was there a fear that someone would throw up in front of the camera?
As much as zero-gee cavorting would be a big selling point, barfing would sort of negate it! They surely must have found a way to capture the crews’ reactions selectively.
Ps. Yeah it sure was a short ride! I think “space-coaster” rides are going to enjoy a rather brief period of fashion, as the price of orbital flight comes down, and the expectations of the near-rich go up! From the seller’s point of view, the risk/benefit is not going to get any better, is it?
I had to urn the sound way down as one lady was totally annoying. The other one knew when less was more….
The BO announcers repeatedly referred to the New Shepard rocket as “beautiful”. Words fail me… clean ones that is!
Quote of the Day – “I am just watching the postflight interview with William Shatner. The first thought that came to mind is the mental acuity of the 90-year-old Shatner as compared with the mental fumblings of 78-year-old Biden.”
Talk about a nothing burger
Shortly after separation there was a spray of frozen liquid zip up past the capsule and I thought Shatner just pissed himself……
Shortly after separation there was a spray of frozen liquid zip up past the capsule and I thought Shatner just pissed himself……
SpaceX –
“The Norminal Mission Control Audio Cut”
https://youtu.be/ZIRlCXPv-MU
1:39
‘The most profound experience I can imagine’: Emotional William Shatner recounts space trip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSNXBvpLb9o
Henner Post: “It was heart breaking to see and hear those screaming partypeople while Mr. Shatner wanted to just have a moment to realize what just happened. They all should be ashamed.”
Irene Haralabatos: “Captain Kirk, traveler of galaxies, is happier with the blue earth than with the darkness of space. Who knew?
Just kidding, he is realizing emotionally that life is fragile. The earth is our life support system in dead cold space.”
Omar Francis: “Shatner being deep and philosophical and the rest of them popping champagne just shows you the absolute best and worst of humanity all at once.”
Komekomesportfishing: “the only one in the group that had a profound sense of self. what a humble man.”
I am with Henner on this one…the kids showing out…but Bezos walking away? Some people don’t have souls
“Nice to see you in action for one last time, Captain Kirk.”
Captain Hikaru Sulu
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Meyer 1991
New Shepard Mission NS-18: Apogee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utUQ01BueHY
Harabeck: “Shatner was almost in tears trying to explain the experience back on the ground.”
William Shatner Reacts To Seeing Earth From Space: ‘It’s So Fragile’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx_CdBcRexc
Gvt – Great Star Trek reference on Zefram Cochrane
mivenho – I too was worried about all those stairs and the 90 year old guy. I noticed a few things: 1) Shatner led the parade, so he set the group stair climb pace. 2) Camera discretely shifted back to babbling ladies for a few minutes, perhaps to let the good Captain Kirk catch his breather? I was impressed with Shatner climbing all those stairs at 90 – good for him!
Questioner – Great set of comments by others. Two rich young guys and their girlfriends whooping it up. An older guy, who must be thinking about his mortality and combined with seeing an amazing sight, wishes to was more philosophic. Shatner’s observations were moving to me.