What is the New Shephard rocket system? – INSIGHTSIAS

by

[ad_1]

Topics Covered: Awareness in space.

What is the New Shephard rocket system?

Context:

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos back on earth after 10-min flight to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft.

  • He was accompanied by brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and 18-year-old passenger Oliver Daemen.

 

Significance of the mission:

The astronauts experienced three to four minutes of zero-g and travelled above the Kármán Line, the internationally-recognised boundary of space.

 

What is New Shephard, the rocket system?

  • It is a rocket system meant to take tourists to space successfully.
  • The system is built by Blue Origin.
  • New Shephard has been named after astronaut Alan Shephard, the first American to go to space.
  • It offers flights to space over 100 km above the Earth and accommodation for payloads.
  • The system is a fully reusable, vertical takeoff and vertical landing space vehicle.

 

Scientific objectives of the mission:

It is a rocket system that has been designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Karman line – the internationally recognised boundary of space.

  • The idea is to provide easier and more cost-effective access to space meant for purposes such as academic research, corporate technology development and entrepreneurial ventures among others.

 

Insta Curious:

Have you heard about Armstrong Line? Where does it begin? Reference: 

 

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

  1. About New Shepherd Rocket system.
  2. Objectives.
  3. Significance.
  4. What is Karman Line?

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of space tourism.

Sources: the Hindu.

[ad_2]

Leave a Comment