Blue Origin announced on Monday that its next human spaceflight will happen on October 12, unveiling two of the four astronauts, including the third Australian ever to fly into space.
The Jeff Bezos-founded company will bring Dr Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of Planet Labs and partner at venture capital firm DCVC and Medidata co-founder Glen de Vries into space on the New Shepard rocket.
In an email obtained by DailyMail.com, the company said the other two astronauts would be announced ‘in the coming days,’ though speculation rose last week when legendary Star Trek actor William Shatner was reported to join the crew.
Blue Origin announced on Monday its next human spaceflight will happen on October 12. Liftoff on the New Shepard rocket is currently targeted for 8:30 am CDT from Launch Site One in West Texas
One of the astronauts joining the flight will be Dr Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of Planet Labs and current partner at venture capital firm DCVC
Liftoff on the New Shepard rocket is currently being targeted for 8:30 am CDT/ 13:30 UTC from Launch Site One in West Texas.
Planet Labs, which was co-founded by Boshuizen in 2010, was the first company to ‘commercially utilize nanosatellites,’ also known as cube satellites or CubeSats.
Boshuizen, who has an estimated net worth approaching $30 million, was also the Space Mission Architect at NASA’s Ames Research Center between 2008 and 2012, having invented the Phonesat, a satellite built from a smartphone.
‘This is a fulfillment of my greatest childhood dream,’ said Dr Boshuizen in a statement.
‘More importantly, though, I see this flight as an opportunity to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM and catalyze the next generation of space explorers. After all, our future of life in space is in their very capable hands.’
Boshuizen applied for the Australian Defense Force Academy at the age of 17, but was rejected because he was partially color blind, Space News reports.
The only other astronauts from Australia are Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas.
Mr de Vries, 48, who co-founded Mediadata Solutions in 1999 said the spot on the New Shepard is a ‘dream come true’
Mr de Vries, 48, who co-founded Mediadata Solutions in 1999 said the spot on the New Shepard is a ‘dream come true.’
‘I’ve spent my entire career working to extend people’s lives,’ de Vries said in a statement.
‘However, with limited materials and energy on Earth, extending our reach into space can help humanity continue to thrive.’
He continued: ‘Playing a part in advancing the space industry and one day making those resources and that understanding available to everyone, is an incredible opportunity. I’ve been passionate about aviation and space for as long as I can remember, so this flight is truly a dream come true.’
Shatner, 90, reportedly would be part of a documentary of the 15-minute civilian flight, according to TMZ.
Actor William Shatner may be one of the other two astronauts on the flight, which is scheduled to take off from Launch Site One in West Texas
Pictured from left to right: Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, Mark Bark Bezos, Jeff Bezos and Wally Funkd. Blue Origin’s first flight occurred on July 20
Blue Origin’s first flight, which occurred on July 20, saw Bezos, his brother Mark, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen and test pilot, Wally Funk, head into space.
Funk became the oldest person to ever fly to space at 82 years old.
At 18 years old, Daemen became the youngest person, first teenager, and first person born in the 21st century to travel to space.
Olver’s father, Joes Daemen, who founded private equity firm Somerset Capital Partners, bought the seat aboard the flight for over $20 million at auction.