(NEW YORK) — “Good Morning America” co-anchor Michael Strahan and the Blue Origin crew of astronauts successfully blasted off to space and back to Earth aboard New Shepard on Saturday morning.
The Dec. 11 mission was the rocket’s third human flight this year and marked the first with a full astronaut manifest of six crew members in the capsule, according to Blue Origin.
Check out all the live details and recap below from the “Launch Site One” facility in the West Texas desert.
Dec 11, 10:27 am
Jeff Bezos greets Micahel Strahan as he exists capsule
The original six were greeted with hugs and high-fives from family and friends as they safely exited the capsule.
Jeff Bezos: “Welcome back guys!”@michaelstrahan and crew exit the Blue Origin New Shepard capsule to a hugs with family and friends.#BlueOrigin
LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/8apfTsHNS4 pic.twitter.com/lAKE4oqJZX— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 11, 2021
“It’s unreal…I want to go back!”@michaelstrahan shares his experience on the Blue Origin New Shepard with Jeff Bezos, family and friends on the ground.#BlueOrigin
LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/8apfTsHNS4 pic.twitter.com/94roL4zn7V— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 11, 2021
Dec 11, 10:13 am
Capsule, crew safely touch down back to Earth
And, capsule touchdown! Welcome back to Earth, crew of #NS19. Laura, Michael, Evan, Dylan, Cameron, and Lane.
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 11, 2021
Dec 11, 10:11 am
Strahan and crew celebrate in space.
Dec 11, 10:04 am
New Shepard takes off
The full capsule of six people has taken flight.
Dec 11, 5:31 am
What Strahan will bring to space
Strahan told “GMA” that he’s bringing a few personal items to space including his Super Bowl and Hall of Fame rings, his retired Giants jersey, special watches and the shell casings from the gun that was fired at his father’s military funeral. Strahan said he also added his grandfather’s pocket watch that was given to him by his mom.
“This is a once in a lifetime experience, of course, you want to have your most prized possessions and meaningful belongings with you,” Strahan said.
Dec 11, 5:26 am
Meet the crew
Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard who was the first American in space and the fifth man on the moon, will follow in her father’s footsteps on Saturday. She told “GMA” her father would tell her to enjoy the moment and take in the view.
Space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick, and Bess Ventures founder Lane Bess and his child, Cameron, will also be part of the crew for New Shepard’s 19th mission. Lane and Cameron Bess will become the first parent-child pair to fly in space.
Dec 11, 5:18 am
Thursday launch delayed, pushed to Saturday
Strahan and five others originally trained and prepared for a Thursday launch from West Texas, but the Jeff Bezos-owned aerospace travel company made the call Wednesday to delay due to weather.
“Due to forecasted winds on Thursday, December 9 and Friday, December 10, the New Shepard launch team has made the call to delay the launch of NS-19 to Saturday, December 11,” Blue Origin said in a statement. “Liftoff from Launch Site One is targeted for 8:45am CST / 14:45 UTC.”
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