Blue Origin NS-23

Last updated
Blue Origin NS-23
Mission typeUncrewed sub-orbital spaceflight
Apogee11.4 km (7.1 mi) [1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft RSS H. G. Wells [2]
Manufacturer Blue Origin
Start of mission
Launch date12 September 2022, 14:27 UTC
Rocket New Shepard (Tail 3) [2]
Launch site Corn Ranch, LS-1
ContractorBlue Origin
End of mission
Landing date12 September 2022, 15:00 UTC
Landing siteCorn Ranch
 

Blue Origin NS-23 was an uncrewed sub-orbital spaceflight mission of Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, which launched on 12 September 2022. The booster failed during max q about a minute after launch, triggering the launch escape system which removed the capsule from the booster. [3] The capsule landed successfully, while the booster was destroyed upon impact with the ground. [4]

Contents

Flight

The flight involved the capsule RSS H. G. Wells and the propulsion module Tail 3, forming the New Shepard stack. [2] The vehicle was originally intended to launch on 31 August but was grounded by bad weather, first to 1 September and then to 12 September. [5] [6]

On 12 September the vehicle lifted off as expected but one minute and four seconds into the flight at an altitude of approximately 5 mi (8.0 km), [7] as the rocket was reaching its maximum dynamic pressure, booster one failed and yellow flames could be seen coming from it. [8] As the rocket begun to tilt the launch escape system was triggered by the booster failure, pushing the capsule away from the booster. [9] The capsule reached an altitude of about 37,000 ft (11,278 m), before successfully deploying its parachutes and landing; [10] the booster impacted in a hazard zone and was destroyed. [7] The flight was uncrewed, but the same booster design is used on Blue Origin's commercial flights carrying passengers. [11]

As the launch escape system was triggered Blue Origin's live launch commentary went silent, before saying "It appears we’ve experienced an anomaly with today’s flight. This wasn’t planned". Blue Origin later tweeted "Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed". [12]

The flight was the first complete mission failure of the New Shepard vehicle, and the second in-flight anomaly after NS-1, where the booster crashed upon landing, with the capsule landing safely. [13] This was the fourth time the abort motor has been used, and only time outside of testing. The three previous times were a pad abort test, an in flight abort test at max q (NS-5), and an in flight test at high altitude (NS-9). [14]

Payload

NS-23 was the twenty-third flight of the New Shepard vehicle, and the first time the vehicle failed to reach outer space as expected. On board were thirty-six payloads, including eighteen funded by NASA's Flight Opportunities program. [15] Blue Origin expects that the majority of the payloads survived due to the backup safety systems, although two payloads attached to the outside of the capsule, including JANUS-APL, are predicted to have been destroyed. [8]

PayloadOperatorDescription
AMPES Infinity Fuel Cell and NASA Demonstrate the operation of hydrogen fuel cells in microgravity. [16]
Biological Imaging in Support of Suborbital Science University of Florida Tests an improved version of the BISS system, including autofocus and improved resolution. [16] [17]
ASSET-1 Honeybee Robotics Study the strength of regolith under different gravity conditions. [16]
Wings of Steel NeoCity Academy Test the effects of gravity on ultrasonic waves. [16]
WAX CASTING MIT Media Lab Test how propellants can be fabricated in space. [16]
ENGARTBOX Anatolia College and Olympiaspace Attempts to produce a painting in microgravity. [16]
CFOSS NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Test of a space-rated fiber optic sensing system. [16]
JANUS-APL Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Mounted outside the capsule to monitor conditions in the atmosphere. [16]
T-2 Mission Arroway Titan Space Technologies Test of a sensor-monitoring AI [16]
VARD Creare, LLC and Dartmouth College Test a sensor that monitors the volume of liquid in a flexible bladder in microgravity [16]

Investigation

In March 2023, Blue Origin released the findings in the NS-23 failure investigation. The investigation took over six months with little information released publicly during that time. It found that failure in the BE-3PM caused the accident. The engine failure was as a result of higher than expected temperatures due to design changes prior to the accident flight. [18] [19]

Blue Origin stated that it plans to make structural changes to its BE-3 engine in order to withstand higher temperatures, and is targeting a return to flight before the end of 2023. [20]

Response

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the New Shepard vehicles while it conducts an investigation into "whether any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety", noting that the investigation is standard procedure. [21] The chairman of the United States House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Don Beyer, issued a statement, saying that it was a "compelling reminder of the risks of spaceflight". [11]

The incident is expected to cause scheduling delays for Blue Origin, as engineers attempt to identify the cause of the failure and correct it; [8] the New Shepard class will not be permitted to fly again until the FAA sign off on their findings. [22]

On September 15, leaders of the United States House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics called for more transparency from the FAA due to the lack of details regarding the abort. As New Shepard flies humans, the accident would have endangered lives had there been passengers onboard. The request for transparency included keeping members of the subcommittee up to date with the investigation, the root cause of the accident once it was determined, and actions to address the cause. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

Human spaceflight programs have been conducted, started, or planned by multiple countries and companies. The age of manned rocket flight was initiated by Fritz von Opel who piloted the world's first rocket-propelled flight on 30 September 1929. All space flights depend on rocket technology; von Opel was the co-designer and financier of the visionary project. Until the 21st century, human spaceflight programs were sponsored exclusively by governments, through either the military or civilian space agencies. With the launch of the privately funded SpaceShipOne in 2004, a new category of human spaceflight programs – commercial human spaceflight – arrived. By the end of 2022, three countries and one private company (SpaceX) had successfully launched humans to Earth orbit, and two private companies had launched humans on a suborbital trajectory. The criteria for what constitutes human spaceflight vary. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale defines spaceflight as any flight over 100 kilometers (62 mi). In the United States professional, military, and commercial astronauts who travel above an altitude of 80 kilometers (50 mi) are awarded the United States Astronaut Badge. This article follows the FAI definition of spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reusable launch vehicle</span> Vehicles that can go to space and return

A reusable launch vehicle has parts that can be recovered and reflown, while carrying payloads from the surface to outer space. Rocket stages are the most common launch vehicle parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as rocket engines and boosters can also be reused, though reusable spacecraft may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch, therefore reducing its launch cost significantly. However, these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Origin</span> American aerospace company

Blue Origin, LLC is an American aerospace manufacturer, defense contractor, launch service provider and space exploration company headquartered in Kent, Washington, United States. The company makes rocket engines for United Launch Alliance (ULA) and other customers as well as manufactures rockets, spacecrafts and heavy-lift launch vehicles. The company was selected as the second provider for lunar lander services for NASA's Artemis program and was awarded a $3.4 billion contract. The company has three rocket engines in production including the BE-3U, BE-3PM and BE-4. The company is working on a fourth rocket engine called the BE-7 which is still under development and when completed will be used on planetary bodies other than Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launch escape system</span> A system to get the crew to safety if a rocket launch fails

A launch escape system (LES) or launch abort system (LAS) is a crew-safety system connected to a space capsule. It is used in the event of a critical emergency to quickly separate the capsule from its launch vehicle in case of an emergency requiring the abort of the launch, such as an impending explosion. The LES is typically controlled by a combination of automatic rocket failure detection, and a manual activation for the crew commander's use. The LES may be used while the launch vehicle is still on the launch pad, or during its ascent. Such systems are usually of three types:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launch vehicle</span> Rocket used to carry a spacecraft into space

A launch vehicle is typically a rocket-powered vehicle designed to carry a payload from Earth's surface or lower atmosphere to outer space. The most common form is the ballistic missile-shaped multistage rocket, but the term is more general and also encompasses vehicles like the Space Shuttle. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pad, supported by a launch control center and systems such as vehicle assembly and fueling. Launch vehicles are engineered with advanced aerodynamics and technologies, which contribute to high operating costs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Shepard</span> Rocket developed by Blue Origin

New Shepard is a fully reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle developed for space tourism by Blue Origin. The vehicle is named after Alan Shepard, who was the first American to travel into space and the fifth person to walk on the Moon. The vehicle is capable of vertical takeoff and landings. Additionally, it is also capable of carrying humans and customer payloads into a sub-orbital trajectory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VTVL</span> Method of takeoff and landing used by rockets; Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing

Vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) is a form of takeoff and landing for rockets. Multiple VTVL craft have flown. The most widely known and commercially successful VTVL rocket is SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage.

The Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle, designed for NASA's Project Mercury, was the first American crewed space booster. It was used for six sub-orbital Mercury flights from 1960–1961; culminating with the launch of the first, and 11 weeks later, the second American in space. The four subsequent Mercury human spaceflights used the more powerful Atlas booster to enter low Earth orbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BE-3</span> Liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket engine

The BE-3 is a LH2/LOX rocket engine developed by Blue Origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BE-4</span> Large staged combustion rocket engine under development by Blue Origin

The Blue Engine 4 or BE-4 is an oxygen-rich liquefied-methane-fueled staged-combustion rocket engine under development by Blue Origin. The BE-4 is being developed with private and public funding. The engine has been designed to produce 2.4 meganewtons (550,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level.

New Glenn is a heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle in development by Blue Origin, named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. Design work on the vehicle began in 2012; illustrations of the vehicle, and the high-level specifications, were initially publicly unveiled in September 2016. New Glenn is a two-stage rocket with a diameter of 7 m (23 ft). Its first stage will be powered by seven BE-4 engines that are also being designed and manufactured by Blue Origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billionaire space race</span> Billionaire space rivalry

The billionaire space race is the rivalry among entrepreneurs who have entered the space industry from other industries - particularly computing. This private spaceflight race involves sending privately developed rockets and vehicles to various destinations in space, often in response to government programs or to develop the space tourism sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz MS-10</span> Aborted 2018 Russian crewed spaceflight

Soyuz MS-10 was a crewed Soyuz MS spaceflight that aborted shortly after launch on 11 October 2018 due to a failure of the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle boosters. MS-10 was the 139th flight of a Soyuz spacecraft. It was intended to transport two members of the Expedition 57 crew to the International Space Station. A few minutes after liftoff, the craft went into contingency abort due to a booster failure and had to return to Earth. By the time the contingency abort was declared, the launch escape system (LES) tower had already been ejected and the capsule was pulled away from the rocket using the solid rocket jettison motors on the capsule fairing. Both crew members, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin and NASA astronaut Nick Hague, were recovered in good health. The MS-10 flight abort was the first instance of a Russian crewed booster accident in 35 years, since Soyuz T-10-1 exploded on the launch pad in September 1983. On 1 November 2018, Russian scientists released a video recording of the mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9 B1046</span> Falcon 9 first stage booster

Falcon 9 B1046 was a reusable Falcon 9 first-stage booster manufactured by SpaceX. It flew four times between 2018 and 2020 before it was expended during a successful abort test of the Crew Dragon. It was the first Block 5 upgrade to the Falcon 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test</span> Post-launch abort test of the SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft

SpaceXCrew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test was a successful test of the SpaceX Dragon 2 abort system, conducted on 19 January 2020. It was the final assessment for the Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 launch system before they would be certified to carry humans into space. Booster B1046.4 and an uncrewed capsule C205 were launched from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) on a suborbital trajectory, followed by an in-flight abort of the capsule at max Q and supersonic speed. The test was carried out successfully: the capsule pulled itself away from the booster after launch control commanded main engine shutdown and landed safely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Origin NS-16</span> First crewed flight of New Shepard (2021)

Blue Origin NS-16 was a sub-orbital spaceflight mission operated by Blue Origin which flew on 20 July 2021. The mission was the sixteenth flight of the company's New Shepard integrated launch vehicle and spacecraft, and its first crewed flight. It carried into space American billionaire and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, pilot and Mercury 13 member Wally Funk, and Dutch student Oliver Daemen. The flight commenced from Blue Origin's Corn Ranch sub-orbital launch site in West Texas aboard the third flight of New Shepard booster NS4 and the spacecraft RSS First Step, both having previously flown on NS-14 and NS-15 earlier in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Daemen</span> Youngest person to travel to space (born 2002)

Oliver Daemen is a Dutch space tourist who flew as part of the 20 July 2021, sub-orbital Blue Origin NS-16 spaceflight. At the time of his flight he was 18 years old, and is the youngest person, first teenager, and first person born in the 21st century to travel to space. Daemen is a licensed pilot.

RSS First Step is a New Shepard space capsule, built and operated by American spaceflight company Blue Origin. It is the third New Shepard capsule to fly to space, and the first to fly passengers. Its first flight was the NS-14 mission, which reached an altitude of 107 km (66 mi) on 14 January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Origin NS-18</span> 2021 American crewed sub-orbital spaceflight

Blue Origin NS-18 was a sub-orbital spaceflight mission operated by Blue Origin that launched on 13 October 2021. The mission was the eighteenth flight of the company's New Shepard integrated launch vehicle and spacecraft. It was the second crewed New Shepard launch. The flight, carrying four people including actor William Shatner, launched from Blue Origin's sub-orbital launch site in West Texas aboard the fourth flight of New Shepard booster NS4 and the spacecraft RSS First Step, both having previously flown on NS-14, NS-15, and NS-16 earlier in the year.

Gary Lai is an American aerospace engineer. He was the chief architect for New Shepard, a vehicle developed by aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin for space tourism. On March 31, 2022, he flew on New Shepard's 20th mission to space, NS-20.

References

  1. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2022-09-12). "New Shepard suffers in-flight abort on uncrewed suborbital flight". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  2. 1 2 3 Richard Tribou (12 September 2022). "FAA grounds Blue Origin New Shepard after emergency abort during launch". Orlando Sentinel.
  3. ↑ Roth, Emma (2022-09-12). "Blue Origin's uncrewed capsule safely escapes after midflight anomaly". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  4. ↑ Catherine Thorbecke (12 September 2022). "Blue Origin rocket experiences 'booster failure,' activates abort system during uncrewed launch". CNN. Archived from the original on 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  5. ↑ "Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, which has carried space tourists, suffers failure". Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "New Shepard Mission NS-23 Updates". Blue Origin. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  7. 1 2 "'We've experienced an anomaly': Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket fails in uncrewed mission". ABC News. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "'We've experienced an anomaly': Bezos's latest Blue Origin launch fails". the Guardian. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "Booster failure halts Blue Origin space mission". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  10. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (2022-09-12). "Bezos' Rocket Crashes; No People Were Aboard". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  11. 1 2 "Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chair Beyer Statement on Blue Origin New Shepard-23 Booster Failure | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology". science.house.gov. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  12. ↑ Dunn, Marcia. "Bezos rocket fails during liftoff, only experiments aboard". www.wbtv.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Mike Wall Contributions from Elizabeth Howell (2022-09-12). "Blue Origin's New Shepard suffers anomaly during launch, capsule lands safely". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  14. ↑ Doug Messier (12 September 2022). "New Shepard Research Flight Suffers In-flight Abort; Capsule Lands Safely, Booster Likely Destroyed". Parabolic Arc.
  15. ↑ "NS-23 to Fly 36 Payloads and Tens of Thousands of Club for the Future Postcards to Space". Blue Origin. Archived from the original on 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "NS-23 to Fly 36 Payloads and Tens of Thousands of Club for the Future Postcards to Space". Blue Origin. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  17. ↑ "Biological Imaging in Support of Suborbital Science". Flight Opportunities. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  18. ↑ Sheetz, Michael. "Blue Origin says an overheated engine part caused last year's cargo rocket failure". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  19. ↑ "Blue Origin NS-23 Findings". Blue Origin. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  20. ↑ "Blue Origin Says Engine Issue Caused September Rocket Crash". Bloomberg.com. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  21. ↑ Tan, Huileng. "An uncrewed rocket from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin failed just over a minute after launch". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  22. ↑ "Uncrewed Blue Origin capsule lands safely after New Shepard rocket failure". au.finance.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  23. ↑ Tariq Malik (2022-09-19). "Congress wants transparency on Blue Origin launch failure investigation by FAA". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
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