Kea Aerospace CEO Mark Rocket has made history as the first Kiwi to travel to space.
The NS-32 mission aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifted off from its launch pad in Texas at 1.39am (NZ time), soaring past the Kármán line – the internationally recognised boundary of space – 100 kilometres above Earth, before landing safely around 1.50am.
The Christchurch aerospace engineer, who changed his last name due to his love for space, said in a post-flight statement that the experience far surpassed his admittedly “high expectations”.
‘I backflipped out of my seat’: NZ’s first space tourist describes ‘intense’ experience – watch on TVNZ+
“Within three minutes, New Shepard accelerated to over 3400 kilometres per hour. It was such a wonderfully intense experience,” he said.
Through the suborbital rocket’s large windows, he said, the passengers had “breathtaking views: the inky blackness of space above, and our magnificent blue planet below”.
“The curvature of the Earth was clearly visible, with over 1000 kilometres of horizon in every direction. I unbuckled, floated and did flips. What a tremendous rush.
“After three wonderful minutes of weightlessness, we strapped back in and braced for re-entry, peaking at 5 g-forces on the way down.”
The Kea Aerospace CEO is the 697th person to travel above the Kármán line – the imaginary boundary defining the beginning of space. (Source: 1News)
Rocket also thanked his fellow crew members, saying it was “a privilege to fly with you”.
“And my heartfelt gratitude to the entire Blue Origin team who made this extraordinary journey possible.”
It marks the 12th human space flight from Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos’ space tourism venture.
