Blue Origin launch recap: Jeff Bezos soars to the edge of space

Jeff Bezos and three others are launched to the edge of space on Tuesday.

ByCatherine Thorbecke
Last Updated: July 21, 2021, 4:57 AM EDT

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos blasted to the edge of space and spent a few minutes outside Earth's atmosphere Tuesday on the first crewed flight from his firm Blue Origin.

An elated Bezos could be heard calling it "the best day ever" after landing back on Earth.

The milestone launch in the modern commercial space race comes on the 52nd anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moon landing in 1969, though the space-faring landscape has evolved by giant leaps since then as billionaires emerge as key players driving the new race to the cosmos.

Bezos, who holds the title of the richest man in the world per Bloomberg data, has said the spaceflight will fulfill a lifelong dream and he is also curious how it will "change" him.

The crew members of Blue Origin's first crewed flight speak out in an interview with "Good Morning America," July 19, 2021.
ABC News

Here is how the launch unfolded.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Jul 20, 2021, 10:04 AM EDT

Richard Branson congratulates Bezos on a successful flight 

Sir Richard Branson, who flew to the edge of space via his own company Virgin Galactic earlier this month, sent well-wishes to Bezos and his crew on Tuesday.

“Impressive! Very best to all the crew from me and all the team at @virgingalactic,” the commercial space entrepreneur wrote. 

] text=[MORE: Richard Branson, crew go to space and back on Virgin Galactic spaceship]/

Branson beat fellow billionaire Bezos into space by just nine days.

Jul 20, 2021, 9:34 AM EDT

Crew exits capsule

After the capsule landed back on Earth, Jeff Bezos was seen through the window pumping his fists and giving a thumbs-up.

The Bezos brothers, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen then exited the capsule with huge smiles on their faces and were greeted with cheers and hugs.

Jul 20, 2021, 9:26 AM EDT

Capsule lands back on earth

After an approximately 10-minute journey, the capsule floated back down to the earth via a parachute and touched down at approximately 9:23 a.m ET.

"It was so amazing, it was so amazing," Daemen can be heard saying upon landing.

Jul 20, 2021, 9:22 AM EDT

Booster lands back on earth 

The booster has returned to earth, landing successfully while the capsule carrying the crew has crossed the Karman line -- the boundary between earth’s atmosphere and space.  

“You have a very happy crew up here, I want you to know,” one of the astronauts can be heard saying.

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