On August 26 at 14:31 UTC, a Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital rocket launched the NS-17 mission from the company’s Van Horn, Texas, launch site. Onboard were eighteen scientific payloads and no human passengers. Eleven of the payloads were NASA-supported.

On the outside of the booster was NASA’s Deorbit Descent and Landing Sensor Demonstration, which improved on a sensor package previously flown on the NS-13 flight back in 2020. The technology will allow landing at sites on the Moon not possible during the Apollo missions.

NS-17 also carried artwork on the outside of the uncrewed capsule: three paintings that were installed on the main chute covers. Made by Ghanaian painter Amoako Boafo, they depict himself, his mother, and a friend’s mother.

Both the booster and capsule landings were successful. 

More Information

Blue Origin press release

Uplift Aerospace press release

Launch video