Audrey Powers , Blue Origin ’ s vice president of mission and flight operations , recently flew to space as part of New Shepard ’ s 18th mission crew [ NS-18 ].
According to a Blue Origin spokesperson , “ Audrey Powers joined Blue Origin in 2013 and oversees all New Shepard flight operations , vehicle maintenance , launch , landing , and ground support infrastructure .”
The spokesperson added , “ In collaboration with New Shepard ’ s safety and mission assurance team , test and flight operations , chief engineers , and external partners , ( Powers ) played a lead role in the multi-year process to certify New Shepard for human flight .”
Blue Origin ’ s New Shepard Chief Architect , Gary Lai , was a crew member on New Shepard ’ s 20th mission on March 31 . He has been integral in architecture and design and joined the team in 2004 .
The Northwest houses many great companies like Blue Origin and Boeing in the Seattle area . The greater Northwest is home to many other name-brand aerospace companies like Collins Aerospace , AMT Senior Aerospace , AeroTEC , and Esterline .
So , while Blue Origin continues to see success in space launches and tourism , they have also invested in the future of life in space , and it is called Orbital Reef .
JUNE | JULY 2021 ISSUE NO . 27 11