Blue Origin mission complete recap: Michael Strahan reflects on trip to space

The "GMA" co-anchor joins 5 others on the New Shepard launch from West Texas.

Last Updated: December 11, 2021, 8:24 PM EST

"Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan and the Blue Origin crew of astronauts successfully blasted off to space and back to Earth aboard New Shepard on Saturday morning.

The Dec. 11 mission was the rocket's third human flight this year and marked the first with a full astronaut manifest of six crew members in the capsule, according to Blue Origin.

The mission elapsed time was 10 minutes and 13 seconds with a maximum ascent velocity of 2,244 miles per hour, or 3,611 kilometers per hour.

The "GMA" co-anchor joined 5 others on New Shepard's third human flight this year.
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Best moments from Michael Strahan's Blue Origin space trip

The "GMA" co-anchor joined 5 others on New Shepard's third human flight this year.
ABCNews.com

Check out all the live details and recap below from the "Launch Site One" facility in the West Texas desert.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Dec 11, 2021, 2:58 PM EST

Strahan shares his post-space flight thoughts

"It's such -- almost like an out-of-body experience. It's hard to even believe it happened," Strahan said in an interview with ABC News' Amy Robach on Saturday. "It's a crazy feeling, like the feeling of weightlessness, the feeling when the booster goes off, the rocket goes off, and it detaches and you don't know what's up from down. And you're body just goes like this, and you take off a seatbelt, but naturally, it feels natural to move."

Strahan added that "you actually have to push off things and touch them very gently" to move about with zero gravity. "But it feels very natural."

Dec 11, 2021, 10:27 AM EST

Jeff Bezos greets Michael Strahan as he exists capsule

The original six were greeted with hugs and high-fives from family and friends as they safely exited the capsule.

Laura Shepard Churchley spoke with Strahan moments after they exited the capsule.

Once back at the training center, Strahan shared a selfie video to reflect on the experience. "It's hard to even describe it. It's gonna take a little bit to process it," he said.

Dec 11, 2021, 10:10 AM EST

Capsule, crew safely touch down back to Earth

The capsule successfully made its way back to the West Texas desert.

Dec 11, 2021, 10:08 AM EST

Strahan and crew celebrate in space

The crew hit zero gravity and let out cheers inside the capsule.

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