NS-29

Mission

NS-29 on New Shepard. Tue 4 Feb 2025, 16:00:00 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: West Texas Suborbital Launch Site/ Corn Ranch. Source: Launch Library 2.

NS-29 will simulate the Moon’s gravity and fly 30 payloads, all but one of which is focused on testing lunar-related technologies. The payloads will experience at least two minutes of lunar gravity forces, a first for New Shepard and made possible in part through support from NASA. The flight will test six broad lunar technology areas: In-situ resource utilization, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors and instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry descent and landing. Proving out these technologies at lower cost is another step toward Blue Origin’s mission to lower the cost of access to space for the benefit of Earth. It also enables NASA and other lunar surface technology providers to test innovations critical to achieving Artemis program goals and exploring the Moon’s surface. The New Shepard crew capsule is using its Reaction Control System (RCS) to spin up to approximately 11 revolutions per minute. This spin rate simulates one-sixth Earth gravity at the midpoint of the crew capsule lockers. In simulated lunar gravity, customers can accelerate their learning and technology readiness for lunar payloads at much lower cost.

Mission type

Suborbital

Orbit

Suborbital

Launch timeline

No timeline has been provided by the source.

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:14 UTC.

Launch pad

West Texas Suborbital Launch Site/ Corn Ranch

Corn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA (US)

Coordinates: 31.422878, -104.757121