Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its 13th human spaceflight and the 33rd flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: Allie Kuehner and her husband, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno, Jr., Owolabi Salis, and Jim Sitkin. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 70 people to space, including four who have flown twice.
The flight crossed the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space 100 kilometers above sea level. The rocket reached the apogee, or peak altitude, where the crew experienced weightlessness.
The forecast was 72°F, overcast clouds, 100% cloud cover and a wind speed of 1mph.
“One thing this crew shares in common is an appreciation of our planet’s beauty and the need to preserve it for future generations,” said Audrey Powers, VP, Mission and Flight Operations. “Thank you to our customers for entrusting us to provide this life-changing view. I look forward to seeing how you transform this experience into action.”
West Texas Suborbital Launch Site/ Corn Ranch has witnessed the launch of 33 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts. While Corn Ranch, Van Horn, Texas, has been the site for 33 rocket launches.
Corn Ranch, commonly referred to as Launch Site One (LSO), is a spaceport owned and operated by Blue Origin which is located approximately 30 miles north of the town of Van Horn, Texas.
Blue Origin scrubs New Shepard Mission NS-33 possibly Sunday
Our next NS-33 launch attempt will be tomorrow morning, June 22, with a launch window opening no earlier than 7:30 AM CDT / 12:30 UTC. We’re keeping an eye on developing precipitation near Launch Site One. The webcast will begin 15 minutes before liftoff on BlueOrigin.com.
“We’re scrubbing today’s NS-33 launch due to persistent high winds at Launch Site One. We’re egressing the astronauts and will assess our next launch opportunity,” according to Blue Origin.
The next flight crew for New Shepard Flight NS-33 announced by Blue Origin
Blue Origin has revealed the identity of the six people flying on the company’s NS-33 mission—the crew includes: Allie Kuehner and her husband, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno, Jr., Owolabi Salis, and James (Jim) Sitkin.
This mission is the 13th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 33rd in its history. The flight date will be announced soon. On launch day, the live webcast will start 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
Meet the Crew
Allie Kuehner
Allie is an environmentalist and dedicated conservationist with a passion for protecting natural ecosystems and wildlife for future generations. She serves on the board of Nature is Nonpartisan, a nonprofit organization advocating for bipartisan solutions to environmental challenges. Allie is an avid adventurer and explorer driven by a profound respect for nature and a desire to experience the wild places they work to protect. From remote landscapes to rugged terrain, she believes that firsthand exploration strengthens the case for thoughtful environmental stewardship.
Carl Kuehner
Carl serves as Chairman of Building and Land Technology (BLT), a real estate development, investment, and property management firm dedicated to building communities and ecosystems that promote long-term growth and sustainability. Under his leadership, BLT has redefined urban development by integrating innovative design with a deep commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact. Deeply committed to conservation, Carl champions efforts to sustain, restore, and enhance wildlife and natural habitats, sustainable food systems, and environmental restoration projects through business strategy and philanthropic initiatives. His work reflects a belief that responsible development and social stewardship go hand in hand, creating a legacy that balances progress with purpose.
Leland Larson
Leland is a philanthropist and former CEO of School Bus Services, Inc. and Larson Transportation Services. Both are family-owned businesses based in Oregon focused on public transportation systems regionally and nationally. In 1997, Leland co-founded the Larson Legacy, a philanthropic foundation focused on supporting hundreds of progressive nonprofits domestically and internationally. Early in his career, Leland was a teacher, worked in the Army counseling soldiers on their educational aspirations, and served as a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1968, which wrote the present-day Constitution of Hawaii. Leland is a passionate gardener and beekeeper, raises koi fish and chickens, and cherishes spending time with monks in the high mountains of Tibet.
Freddie Rescigno, Jr.
Freddie is an Italian-American entrepreneur, business owner, and competitive golfer based in Suwanee, Georgia. He is President and CEO of Commodity Cables, a company he founded in 2001 that services the electrical distribution market for wire and cable needs. His passion for archeological discoveries is at the heart of his interest in space. A lifelong golfer, Freddie has competed as an amateur at the state and national levels for 20 years. He is a father of three boys, who have inherited his same love for golf and Italian culture.
Owolabi Salis
Owolabi is an attorney and a financial consultant. He is the author of Equitocracy, which presents a vision for democracy that prioritizes equity among diverse groups. Owolabi is also a key member of The Soul Maker Ministry, which preaches diversity given the diverse nature of the universe. He is dedicating this mission to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations.
Jim Sitkin
Jim practiced law in California for four decades before retirement. His expertise focused on employment class actions on behalf of non-unionized employees, challenging industries that traditionally had rejected application of various employee protections. Jim is a volunteer for a global NGO, facilitating meetings with government and community leaders in Central Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. A lifelong adventurer, Jim has explored seven continents and has dreamt of space since he was a child growing up watching Star Trek. Jim and his wife, Sue, live in California with their very fat cat, Hickory.
