Blue Origin customer, 18, will become youngest astronaut to fly to space
- Oliver Daemen, who graduated from high school last year and holds a private pilot’s licence, joins Blue Origin’s maiden crewed space flight on July 20
- Flying on New Shepard will fulfil a lifelong dream for Daemen, who has been fascinated by space, the moon and rockets since he was four, a statement said
Blue Origin said on Thursday an 18-year-old paying customer will fly to space on the company’s maiden crewed space flight on July 20, becoming the world’s youngest astronaut.
Oliver Daemen, who graduated from high school last year and holds a private pilot’s licence, joins Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, the tycoon’s brother Mark and barrier-breaking female aviator Wally Funk as the fourth member of the crew.
He is not, however, the winner of a US$28 million auction followed keenly by space enthusiasts, who has asked to remain anonymous and will fly on a future mission because of a scheduling conflict, the company said.
“This marks the beginning of commercial operations for New Shepard, and Oliver represents a new generation of people who will help us build a road to space,” said Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin.
New Shepard, named for the first American astronaut in space, Alan Shepard, is Blue Origin’s reusable rocket system.
Smith also thanked the auction winner for their support of Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s foundation which this week announced it was donating US$1 million to 19 non-profits that promote science and engineering.