U.S. aerospace company Blue Origin launched its first-ever moon-gravity mission on Tuesday.
The mission is the 29th flight of its New Shepard, Blue Origin’s fully reusable, suborbital rocket system.
The rocket took off from Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site at about 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday.
Minutes later, the crew capsule has reached apogee — the top of its flight — and then descended back to Earth.
The company confirmed capsule touchdown at launch site about 10 minutes after launch.
The flight aims to test six broad lunar technology areas: in-situ resource utilization, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors and instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry, descent and landing, according to Blue Origin. ■