{"id":18432,"date":"2018-07-19T00:28:32","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T16:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/blue-origins-new-shepard-spaceship-hits-new-heights-in-escape-test-flight\/"},"modified":"2018-07-19T00:28:32","modified_gmt":"2018-07-18T16:28:32","slug":"blue-origins-new-shepard-spaceship-hits-new-heights-in-escape-test-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/blue-origins-new-shepard-spaceship-hits-new-heights-in-escape-test-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard spaceship hits new heights in escape test flight"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Blue
Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard spaceship blasts off for a high-altitude escape system test. (Blue Origin via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos watched, his Blue Origin space venture sent its reusable New Shepard spaceship to its highest-ever altitude today during a successful test of a rocket motor that\u2019s meant to be used only in emergencies.<\/p>\n

The climax of the uncrewed test flight came shortly after New Shepard\u2019s capsule separated from its booster and switched on its 70,000-pound-thrust escape rocket motor.<\/p>\n

As planned, the high-altitude firing pushed the capsule past the boundary of outer space, to an unofficial maximum altitude of 389,846 feet, or 119 kilometers. Maximum ascent velocity was listed at 2,236 mph.<\/p>\n

Then both the booster and the capsule made picture-perfect landings back at Blue Origin\u2019s West Texas test site, within sight of the launch pad. The entire mission lasted 11 minutes and 17 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything could have happened today, and this is the best possible outcome,\u201d launch commentator Ariane Cornell said.<\/p>\n