CES 2026: How Emerging Technology is Shaping the Year Ahead
An expert breakdown of CES 2026, exploring how robotics, intelligent devices, and next‑gen computing are shaping technology and professional workflows in 2026.
Blue Origin has successfully launched its 34th New Shepard space mission, marking its 14th human spaceflight and advancing the future of commercial space tourism. The mission, designated NS-34, took off on August 2, 2025, carrying six civilian astronauts past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
🧑🚀 NS-34 Crew Members
The flight
included a diverse international crew:
- Arvi Bahal
- Gökhan Erdem
- Deborah Martorell
- Lionel Pitchford
- J.D. Russell
- H.E. Justin Sun – the winning bidder for the first New Shepard seat in 2021 and founder of TRON blockchain.
With this flight, Blue Origin’s New Shepard has now flown 75 individuals into space, including five repeat flyers, making it one of the most successful suborbital spacecraft for civilian space travel.
Blue Origin Celebrates Diversity in Space
“It was an honor to see so many nations represented on our flight today,” said Phil Joyce, SVP of the New Shepard program. “The view of our fragile planet from space has a unifying effect on all who witness it, and I am always eager to see how our astronauts use this experience for the benefit of Earth.”
The mission is a key milestone in the commercial spaceflight industry, reinforcing Blue Origin’s commitment to making space accessible for non-professional astronauts around the globe.
Key Highlights:
- ✅ Mission Name: NS-34
- ✅ Date: August 2, 2025
- ✅ Total People Flown by New Shepard: 75
- ✅ Flight Duration: ~11 minutes
- ✅ Altitude: Over 100 kilometers (62 miles), crossing the Kármán line
- ✅ Landing: Capsule and booster successfully recovered in West Texas
🛰️ Why This Matters
As space tourism gains momentum, missions like New Shepard’s NS-34 are proving the viability of reusable launch systems and the growing demand for civilian space travel experiences. With competitors like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic also expanding their offerings, Blue Origin remains a major player in the new space economy.
