How is the duration and trajectory of a Blue Origin New Shepard flight characterized?
Answer
Suborbital
A flight aboard the New Shepard vehicle is specifically characterized as suborbital. This means the trajectory involves ascending high enough for passengers to cross the Kármán line, granting them a view of the Earth's curvature and providing several minutes of weightlessness, but the vehicle does not achieve the necessary velocity to remain in orbit around the planet. Consequently, the return journey is a rapid descent resulting in a relatively short overall flight time, distinguishing it significantly from longer-duration missions like those conducted in true orbital vehicles, which require exponentially greater energy expenditure and life support capacity.
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