Matthew Nelson
Eight NASA-supported research and technology payloads launched aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft Wednesday as part of the space agency's Flight Opportunities initiative.
Blue Origin said Wednesday the flight represents the fourth mission for the vehicle and the 10th deployment under the New Shepard program.
The company developed the suborbital rocket system in an effort to help government researchers, entrepreneurs and universities test space-based payloads and technology platforms.
New Shepard's next mission will carry payloads from different parts of the globe.
The Flight Opportunities program supports commercial spaceflight companies developing suborbital and orbital rockets designed to bring small satellites into space.
