Blue Origin reveals crew for New Shepard’s 30th spaceflight mission
6 individuals from diverse backgrounds
Blue Origin, the US-based space exploration company, has revealed the six astronauts flying on the upcoming NS-30 mission aboard its New Shepard rocket. This mission marks a significant milestone for the company, being both the 10th human flight in the New Shepard programme and the 30th flight in the programme’s history.
The crew for this historic mission includes six individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries, each bringing a unique set of experiences and accomplishments. The team consists of Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Dr Richard Scott, Tushar Shah, and a sixth crew member whose identity remains undisclosed. Lane Bess will be flying on New Shepard for the second time, becoming the fourth astronaut to achieve this feat.
As the New Shepard programme continues to make history, this mission signifies another step forward in Blue Origin’s ambitious goal of making space more accessible for a wide range of people.
To date, the programme has successfully flown 47 humans above the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, showcasing Blue Origin’s commitment to commercialising space travel.
The NS-30 mission crew
Lane Bess
Lane Bess is the Principal and Founder of Bess Ventures and Advisory, a family office fund that supports technology firms, particularly those disrupting various market sectors. Lane has an extensive background in cybersecurity, having played a key role in building two of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies—Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler.
Both companies were successfully led to their initial public offerings (IPOs). In addition to his business ventures, Lane is a Trustee at Carnegie Mellon University and is involved in several philanthropic initiatives, particularly in health and social issues. Lane’s first spaceflight was on New Shepard’s NS-19 mission on December 11, 2021, making this his second space journey.
Jesús Calleja
Jesús Calleja is a Spanish TV host, mountaineer, pilot, and adventurer. Known for his daring exploits, Jesús currently hosts several shows, including Calleja Planet, Flying By, and Calleja Universe, on Mediaset channels in Spain.
His impressive adventure portfolio includes climbing the Seven Summits, reaching the North and South Poles, and exploring numerous deserts, volcanoes, and ancient sinkholes. A passionate race car driver, Jesús has competed in the Dakar Rally on four occasions and completed a 3,400-mile journey from the French Pyrenees to Dakar, Senegal, highlighting his love for adventure and motorsport.
Elaine Chia Hyde
Elaine Chia Hyde is an entrepreneur, physicist, and pilot passionate about space exploration. She founded Chicago Star, a news and media company, and Eastside Enterprises, which focused on AI-assisted media products.
Originally from Singapore and raised in Australia, Elaine’s fascination with space began in childhood. After studying business and physics at the University of Melbourne, she moved to the United States, where she worked as a research scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. She later established her own company. Elaine, her physicist husband, and their five children reside in Florida.
Dr Richard Scott
Dr Richard Scott is a distinguished reproductive endocrinologist, embryologist, and research scientist with an impressive career in fertility care. As the founding partner and former CEO of IVIRMA Global, the world’s largest fertility care group, Dr Scott has played a pivotal role in advancing reproductive medicine.
He is an adjunct professor at Yale University and the University of South Carolina (Greenville) Medical Schools. Additionally, he is the founder and Scientific Director of The Foundation for Embryonic Competence, a non-profit organisation dedicated to reproductive research. Dr. Scott has been married for 45 years and has four children.
Tushar Shah
Tushar Shah is a partner and the co-head of research at a quantitative hedge fund in New York City. He holds a PhD in high-energy experimental particle physics from MIT, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in physics.
In addition to his professional work, Tushar and his wife, Sara, are philanthropists focused on addressing critical issues such as poverty, health, and education. They are the proud parents of two children and are dedicated to positively impacting the world through their charitable work.
Blue Origin is yet to announce the exact flight date for the NS-30 mission.
Image: The NS-30 mission crew. Credit: Blue Origin
