Introduction
Blue Origin is set to conduct an innovative suborbital flight with its New Shepard spacecraft, scheduled for January 28, 2023. This upcoming mission, designated NS-29, marks a significant advancement as it aims to demonstrate the capability of generating lunar gravity, a feature that distinguishes it from previous flights that typically provided microgravity conditions. The flight will take place from Blue Origin's test facility located in West Texas and will carry a total of 30 payloads, although it will not include any crew members.
Flight Details and Objectives
The NS-29 mission is designed to create a simulated lunar gravity environment by spinning the New Shepard crew capsule after it separates from the booster. Utilizing reaction control thrusters, the capsule will achieve a rotation speed of approximately 11 revolutions per minute. This maneuver will allow for about two minutes of lunar gravity to be experienced by the payloads inside, which significantly exceeds the mere 20 seconds typically available during parabolic aircraft flights.
Payload Information
Among the 30 payloads, 17 are provided by NASA through its Flight Opportunities program, while the remaining payloads come from various sources, including Honeybee Robotics, a division of Blue Origin. The payloads are categorized into six main areas: in-situ resource utilization, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors and instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry, descent, and landing. Notably, one payload will be mounted externally on the New Shepard booster to expose it to the space environment directly.
Development Background
The development of the lunar gravity capability has been in progress for several years, with a formal agreement between NASA and Blue Origin established in March 2021. This agreement involved NASA providing development funding and committing to purchasing payload space on the New Shepard. Prior to this partnership, Blue Origin had already been exploring the concept of partial-gravity flights, with discussions about spinning the capsule dating back to an August 2020 webinar.
Future Implications
According to Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, the lunar gravity capability not only benefits NASA but also aids other lunar technology providers by accelerating their research and technological readiness at a lower cost. Furthermore, Limp indicated that this technology could potentially be adapted to simulate different gravity levels for other celestial bodies, such as Mars, thereby expanding the utility of New Shepard for various space exploration missions.
Conclusion
The upcoming flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard represents a pivotal step in the quest to simulate lunar gravity in a controlled environment. By facilitating longer durations of lunar gravity for research purposes, this mission could significantly enhance the development of technologies necessary for future lunar exploration. As the space industry continues to evolve, initiatives like NS-29 are crucial for advancing our understanding and capabilities related to space travel and habitation.