• Blue Origin aborted an uncrewed mission mid-flight after its rocket booster experienced an anomaly. All photos: Blue Origin live broadcast
    Blue Origin aborted an uncrewed mission mid-flight after its rocket booster experienced an anomaly. All photos: Blue Origin live broadcast
  • The escape system of the spacecraft was activated after the New Shephard booster experienced an anomaly.
    The escape system of the spacecraft was activated after the New Shephard booster experienced an anomaly.
  • No passengers were on board the NS-23 mission, which was carrying only 36 payloads from schools, research institutions and pupils around the world.
    No passengers were on board the NS-23 mission, which was carrying only 36 payloads from schools, research institutions and pupils around the world.
  • A live broadcast of the launch ended soon after the incident took place.
    A live broadcast of the launch ended soon after the incident took place.
  • The Blue Origin employee narrating the launch said that the escape was 'not planned'.
    The Blue Origin employee narrating the launch said that the escape was 'not planned'.
  • It is unclear what the anomaly was and how it could affect future missions.
    It is unclear what the anomaly was and how it could affect future missions.

Blue Origin to launch space flights for first time since rocket explosion


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

Blue Origin, the company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is set to carry out its first space flight since a rocket exploded during an uncrewed mission in 2022.

A launch window is available next week, starting on December 18, the company said.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket will blast off from a West Texas desert, carrying research work into suborbital space.

"We’re targeting a launch window that opens on December 18 for our next New Shepard payload mission," the company posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday.

"NS-24 will carry 33 science and research payloads as well as 38,000 @clubforfuture postcards to space."

Rocket failure

The explosion of the NS-23 mission last September was blamed on an engine nozzle failure that caused the rocket to overheat.

The mission was aborted mid-flight, only one minute into launch.

But the crew capsule escape system worked as it should, bringing the payloads back to ground with a parachute-assisted landing.

No passengers were on board the mission, which was carrying 36 payloads from schools, research institutions and pupils around the world.

The US Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation into the incident, causing New Shepard flights to be paused. It was closed on September 27, 2023.

"The FAA required Blue Origin implement 21 corrective actions to prevent mishap reoccurrence, including redesign of engine and nozzle components to improve structural performance during operation as well as organisational changes," the report by the authority said at the time.

Space tourism flights

The company has flown 32 people since beginning operations of its space tourism flights in 2021.

Mr Bezos flew on the first crewed flight in July 2021, along with 82-year-old aviation pioneer Wally Funk.

The late British billionaire Hamish Harding, who lived in Dubai, became the first space tourist from the UAE when he flew on a Blue Origin rocket last year.

He was one of the five people who died on the Titan submersible's voyage to the Titanic shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean earlier this year.

The Blue Origin flights offer a 10-minute experience.

Once the spacecraft separates from the booster, it soars 106 kilometres above ground, bringing the passengers views of Earth against the darkness of space.

The reusable booster lands back at the launch site.

The capsule then descends towards the Texas desert under three parachutes, bringing the passengers safely back to ground.

Blue Origin has never publicly revealed the ticket cost for a seat on its flights, but some reports say that it can go up to $1.25 million.

Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard Branson, also offers space tourism flights, with a ticket reportedly priced at $450,000.

Passengers can expect about a 70 to 90-minute flight experience on Virgin Galactic.

A mother ship carries the VSS Unity spaceplane to an altitude high enough for it to be released and then it flies to the boundary of space.

Passengers experience about four minutes of weightlessness, before the plane returns to Earth for a landing on a runway in a New Mexico desert.

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

FIGHT CARD

Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)

Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)

Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Milkman by Anna Burns

Ordinary People by Diana Evans

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Circe by Madeline Miller

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)

Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

Updated: December 13, 2023, 11:50 AM