Jeff Bezos space launch: Latest updates as Amazon founder launched into space on Blue Origin rocket
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Jeff Bezos and three fellow passengers have made a pioneering journey into space.
The trip saw the space tourists take a brief trip off the Earth before coming back down again.
Mr Bezos has promoted the trip as a breakthrough moment for space tourism, which arguably represents the first time that paying, civilian passengers have been sent to space on board a private rocket. It is also the first time that humans have ever ridden on board a spacecraft made by the Amazon founder’s private space company, Blue Origin.
But at the same time, the trip has been criticised by many as an indulgence, with the billionaire spending money and other resources that could be better used to improve life on Earth.
- Oliver Daemen: The millionaire’s son, 18, going to space with Jeff Bezos
- Blue Origin launch: What time does Jeff Bezos and crew go to space and how can you watch?
- Jeff Bezos flight crew: Who will be on Blue Origin rocket and how much is the launch costing?
- Watch live as Jeff Bezos launches himself into space
Rocket sails into the sky
The rocket has gone through “Max Q”, when the stresses on the rocket are at their most.
Everything looking “nominal"
The rocket is about 150,000 foot up and travelling at 2,200mph.
'Oh wow, oh wow’
We can hear the passengers screaming with joy in the cockpit. “Oh wow, oh wow,” one says; “it does change you,” another seems to say.
Passengers falling back to Earth
They’ve got a minute of weightlessness left and they’re still enjoying themselves. You can’t hear much of what they’re saying but they sound very happy.
Rocket falling back to Earth at 2,500mph
The rocket and the capsule are now falling back to the Earth. (The former will come back sooner, because it’s more aerodynamic.)
Passengers forget to check in with Earth
Mission control is asking for updates from the passengers, but they seem too excited to reply. Oliver and Wally have to be nagged to respond (by Jeff Bezos, I think).
Booster safely arrives at landing pad
The rocket booster that pushed Bezos and his fellow passengers back to Earth has now landed on the ground.
Capsule sailing back to Earth
The capsule is falling back to Earth.
“You have a very happy crew up here, I want you to know,” someone says.
Parachutes open to carry capsule to Earth
The capsule is floating down for about another minute and a half, before it will land on a cushion of air.
TOUCHDOWN
The capsule is back on Earth.
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