Crypto Mogul Justin Sun Joins the Elite Club of Space Tourists on Blue Origin's Latest Flight
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The Flight of the Crypto King
Justin Sun's suborbital joyride marks another milestone for private spaceflight
Justin Sun, the flamboyant founder of the cryptocurrency Tron, strapped into Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule on Saturday, becoming the latest billionaire to check 'space travel' off his bucket list. The NS-34 mission, which also carried five other passengers, blasted off from West Texas, offering a fleeting but breathtaking view of Earth from the edge of space.
Sun, known for his aggressive social media presence and crypto empire, didn’t just ride along quietly. He live-streamed the experience, grinning as he floated weightlessly in the capsule’s spacious cabin. 'This is beyond words,' he tweeted afterward, alongside a selfie with the curvature of the Earth in the background. For a man who’s made millions trading digital assets, the tangible thrill of spaceflight seemed to hit different.
Who Else Was on Board?
A mix of adventurers and scientists join the ride
Sun wasn’t the only one living the dream. The crew included Ed Dwight, a 90-year-old former Air Force captain who was nearly America’s first Black astronaut in the 1960s, only to be passed over by NASA. Six decades later, Dwight finally got his moment in zero gravity. 'It’s about damn time,' he joked after landing.
Also aboard were Mason Angel, a venture capitalist with a penchant for extreme experiences; Sylvain Chiron, founder of a French craft brewery; and Kenneth Hess, a software engineer and space enthusiast. Rounding out the group was Carol Schaller, a retired CPA who reportedly won her seat through a charity auction. For all of them, the 11-minute flight was a lifetime highlight—even if it cost upwards of $250,000 a seat.
Why This Launch Matters
Blue Origin’s slow but steady push into the space tourism race
While SpaceX dominates headlines with its orbital missions and Mars ambitions, Blue Origin has carved out a niche with these short, suborbital hops. The NS-34 flight was the company’s seventh crewed mission, a sign that Jeff Bezos’s space venture is settling into a rhythm—even if it’s not quite the pace some expected.
Critics argue Blue Origin is lagging behind competitors, but supporters point to its flawless safety record and the sheer accessibility of these flights. 'Not everyone needs to go to the ISS,' said Laura Forczyk, a space industry analyst. 'For many, this is the perfect introduction to space.'
Still, the clock is ticking. With Virgin Galactic ramping up its own tourism flights and SpaceX eyeing private lunar trips, Blue Origin will need more than suborbital joyrides to stay relevant.
The Bigger Picture
Space tourism is no longer just for astronauts—or even billionaires
A decade ago, the idea of civilians rocketing to space was pure sci-fi. Now, it’s a burgeoning industry, with tickets selling for anywhere from $250,000 to $50 million, depending on the destination. Companies like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX are betting big on a future where space isn’t just for governments.
But questions linger. Is this just a playground for the ultra-rich, or will prices ever drop enough for the rest of us? And what happens when—not if—a fatal accident occurs? The industry’s growth hinges on balancing thrill-seeking with safety, exclusivity with accessibility.
For now, though, Justin Sun and his fellow passengers are proof that the dream is alive. As Sun put it: 'If crypto can take me to space, imagine what’s next.'
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