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, 8:02 PM 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.

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Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 13, 2021, 11:25 AM EDT

'I am so filled with emotion,' Shatner says

Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin's founder, joined friends and family as they greeted the astronauts who exited the capsule one by one.

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos gives the thumbs up to the New Shepard NS-18 mission crew members after landing on Oct. 13, 2021, in the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn.
Jose Romero/Blue Origin/AFP via Getty Images

New Shepard NS-18 mission crew member "Star Trek" actor, William Shatner gets a hug from Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos on Oct. 13, 2021, after landing in the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn.
Jose Romero/BLUE ORIGIN/AFP via Getty Images

Bezos sprayed bottles of champagne to celebrate the safe and historic launch.

"Everybody in the world needs to do this," Shatner, who was overcome with emotion, told Bezos.

"It was so moving. This experience has been something unbelievable," he said. "The blue down there, the black up there."

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

Blue Origin's New Shepard lifts off from the launch pad carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on Oct. 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

"You have done something," Shatner said to Bezos. "What you have given me is the most profound experience. I am so filled with emotion."

He went on, "I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I don't want to lose it. I am overwhelmed."

As for the camaraderie with the crew, the actor said, "It's like being in battle together."

The New Shepard capsule comes in for a landing on Oct. 13, 2021, from the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Oct 13, 2021, 11:02 AM EDT

Capsule touches down safely

The newest astronauts touched down safely at about 11 a.m. ET.

The New Shepard NS-18 mission capsule lands on Oct. 13, 2021, in the West Texas region, 25 miles, north of Van Horn.
Jose Romero/AFP via Getty Images

Recovery crews reach the New Shepard NS-18 mission capsule after landing on Oct. 13, 2021, in the West Texas region, 25 miles north of Van Horn.
Jose Romero/AFP via Getty Images

This was the second crewed flight for Blue Origin.

Oct 13, 2021, 10:59 AM EDT

Booster returns to Earth ahead of capsule

The booster touched back down on Earth after launching Shatner and crew to space.

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.