The mission took six individuals on a short suborbital trip from the company’s launch site in West Texas. New Shepard mission NS-38 launched on Thursday, January 22, around 9:55 pm IST, after a brief delay.
During the 11-minute journey, the crew enjoyed several minutes of weightlessness and had the chance to see Earth from space before safely landing in the Texas desert.
With this mission, Blue Origin has now sent 98 people to space on 17 human spaceflights, including 92 distinct individuals, with six passengers having flown on two occasions.
The company’s inaugural crewed mission launched on July 20, 2021, coinciding with the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Passengers on Blue Origin’s NS-38 suborbital mission
The reusable rocket-and-capsule system carried entrepreneur and pilot Tim Drexler, retired obstetrician and gynaecologist Linda Edwards, real estate developer Alain Fernandez, entrepreneur Alberto Gutiérrez, retired US Air Force Colonel Jim Hendren, and Blue Origin’s Director of New Shepard Launch Operations, Laura Stiles.
We just completed our 38th flight of the New Shepard program and the first of 2026. The crew onboard included: Timothy Drexler, Linda Edwards, Alain Fernandez, Alberto Gutiérrez Pascual, Jim Hendren, and Laura Stiles. New Shepard has flown 98 humans (92 individuals) to space.… pic.twitter.com/GpOTShz8A4
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) January 22, 2026
Stiles substituted for Andrew Yaffe, who could not participate due to illness, but Blue Origin stated that Yaffe is expected to fly on a future New Shepard mission.
Crew profiles:
Tim Drexler: Drexler previously owned and served as CEO of Ace Asphalt. After 40 years in civil contracting, he shifted to aviation and now pilots helicopters and aeroplanes.
Linda Edwards: Edwards is a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist, an accomplished equestrian, a two-time breast cancer survivor, and a wildlife advocate who has visited over 40 countries.
Alain Fernandez: A real estate developer with three decades of experience, Fernandez overcame a significant diving accident sustained while working as a scuba instructor in French Polynesia.
Alberto Gutiérrez: Gutiérrez founded the tours and activities platform Civitatis. A technologist and avid traveller, he has explored more than 100 countries across all seven continents.
Jim Hendren: Hendren is a retired US Air Force Colonel and former F-15 fighter pilot who led the 157th Combat Operations Squadron. He also founded the global manufacturing firm Hendren Plastics Inc.
Laura Stiles: Stiles holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences and oversees New Shepard launch operations at Blue Origin. She is also the world record holder for large-formation skydiving and has dedicated years to mentoring and educating young engineers.
Ticket prices
Blue Origin has yet to reveal ticket prices for New Shepard flights. Industry estimates suggest costs between $200,000 and $300,000 per seat, which is lower than rival space tourism company Virgin Galactic, charging around $600,000.
Some passengers have participated using grants or external funding. According to USA Today, potential customers must provide a $150,000 deposit when submitting a booking form.
