Start suborbitalny statku New Shepard 15 ma odbyć się
14 kwietnia (środa). Okno startowe otwiera się o 13:00 UTC. Start ma odbyć się tradycyjnie z Launch Site One w Zachodnim Teksasie.
Misja ma stanowić próbę przed startem załogowym. Łącznie z tym, że astronauci zajmą przed starem miejsca w kapsule i przeprowadzą wszystkie przygotowania przedstartowe. Jeśli dobrze pójdzie, to NS-16 będzie już załogowy.
Obszarny fragment z newsletera Blue Origin:
During the mission, astronaut operational exercises will be conducted in preparation for human space flight. The primary operations will entail Blue Origin personnel standing in as astronauts entering into the capsule prior to launch. These astronauts will climb the launch tower, get into their seats, buckle their harnesses, and conduct a communications check from their seat with CAPCOM, the Capsule Communicator. The tower operations team will prepare the capsule cabin for launch and then briefly close the capsule hatch. The astronauts will then exit the capsule prior to launch.
Post-landing, the astronauts will get inside the capsule to rehearse hatch opening, and exiting the capsule at the landing site.
Inside the capsule during the flight will be Mannequin Skywalker, along with more than 25,000 postcards on behalf of Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s nonprofit organization. To participate in the postcards program, visit the Club for the Future website here.
As with previous missions, all mission crew supporting this launch are exercising strict social distancing and safety measures to mitigate COVID-19 risks to personnel and surrounding communities.
Launch coverage begins at T-1 hour on BlueOrigin.com and will include live footage of the astronaut rehearsal activities. Follow @BlueOrigin on Twitter for launch updates.