Blue Origin recap: William Shatner 'overwhelmed' by 'moving' trip to space

Shatner, 90, is the oldest person ever to go to space.

ByEmily Shapiro
Last Updated: October 13, 2021, 11:06 AM EDT

Actor William Shatner and his three crewmates on Blue Origin's New Shepard have returned to Earth after a 10-minute trip to space.

Shatner, 90, is the oldest person ever to go to space.

The "Star Trek" star joined Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations and a former NASA flight controller and engineer; Chris Boshuizen, the co-founder of satellite company Planet Labs and a former space mission architect for NASA; and Glen de Vries, the co-founder of Medidata Solutions, a life science company.

This was Blue Origin's second crewed mission to space.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 13, 2021, 10:55 AM EDT

Capsule separates from booster

The capsule has separated from the booster. The astronauts have crossed the Karman line and are set to experience a few moments of microgravity.

Oct 13, 2021, 10:50 AM EDT

Shatner soars to space in historic launch

The New Shepard carries Shatner and his crewmates to the edge of space, just the second crewed mission for Blue Origin.

PHOTO: The New Shepard rocket launches on Oct. 13, 2021, from the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn, with "Star Trek" actor William Shatner aboard.
The New Shepard rocket launches on Oct. 13, 2021, from the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn, with "Star Trek" actor William Shatner aboard, along with Blue Origins' Audrey Powers, Planet Labs co-founder, Chris Boshuizen, and Medidata Solutions Co-Founder, Glen de Vries.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The New Shepard rocket launches, Oct 13, 2021, from the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The spaceflight will be about 11 minutes in total, with approximately three to four minutes of microgravity for the astronauts before they descend back to Earth.

Onlookers watch as Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket blasts off carrying Star Trek actor William Shatner, 90, on billionaire Jeff Bezos's company's second suborbital tourism flight as part of a four-person crew near Van Horn, Texas, Oct. 13, 2021.
Joe Skipper/Reuters

-ABC News' Catherine Thorbecke

Oct 13, 2021, 10:48 AM EDT

New Shepard is a ‘go’ for launch 

The New Shepard is officially a “go” for launch, with less than 10 minutes on the countdown.

"I guess that's it, huh?" Shatner can be heard saying in the capsule.

-ABC News' Catherine Thorbecke

Oct 13, 2021, 10:37 AM EDT

Wally's message to new astronauts

As astronauts awaited the launch, they received a special message from Blue Origin's first crew, including 82-year-old Wally Funk.

"I hope this flight will be the most fantastic experience of your life as it was mine," Funk said. "Take time to enjoy every aspect of this journey from liftoff to touchdown."

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket is prepared for mission NS-18 carrying "Star Trek" actor William Shatner and 3 other passengers for a suborbital flight near Van Horn, Texas, in a still image from video Oct. 13, 2021.
Blue Origin/via Reuters

"Becoming part of the Blue Origin family is an honor like none other I have received. Together, let's cross new boundaries and set new records. I will be watching your liftoff with great enthusiasm and sending my best wishes," she said.

-ABC News' Ayushi Agarwal