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The Blue Origin NS-20 passenger Jim Kitchen is taking a Ukrainian flag to space with him on the launch.

The Blue Origin NS-20 passenger Jim Kitchen is taking a Ukrainian flag to space with him on the launch.  (Image credit: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin passenger Jim Kitchen will be taking a small Ukrainian flag to space on New Shepard's launch, along with a passport he used to visit the country, which will be in his flight suit pocket.

The crew of the New Shepard capsule arrived at their location. They crossed a gantyne and rang a bell before reaching the capsule.

The Blue Origin NS-20 passengers cross the gantry and ring a ceremonial bell as they prepare to board the New Shepard spacecraft.

The Blue Origin NS-20 passengers cross the gantry and ring a ceremonial bell as they prepare to board the New Shepard spacecraft. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

The Blue Origin NS-20 passengers arrive at Launch Site One where their New Shepard rocket and spacecraft are ready for a suborbital launch on March 31, 2022.

The Blue Origin NS-20 passengers arrive at Launch Site One where their New Shepard rocket and spacecraft are ready for a suborbital launch on March 31, 2022. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

The Blue Origin crew arrived at the launch site to board the New Shepard spaceship. They arrived at their West Texas launch site.

The private astronauts are climbing to the boarding level.

Blue Origin has cleared its space tourists to head to the launch pad and board the New Shepard spaceship.

The passengers will travel in electric trucks. They will climb seven flights of stairs and cross a bridge to board New Shepard.

The sun hasn't set yet and it's dark at Blue Origin's launch site.

About 20 minutes ahead of schedule, Blue Origin's launch webcast for the NS-20 mission is live. Blue Origin seems to be targeting 9:10 a.m. It will be launched today.

Blue Origin says it is on time for its planned launch. Blue Origin has a look at the launch timelines.

We’re running ahead of schedule; live webcast will begin at 7:10 am CDT / 12:10 UTC on https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr. Here are the key moments during today’s countdown to launch to look for on the webcast:March 31, 2022

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#NewShepard is on the pad for its 20th mission. Flight controllers are working through nominal check-outs in advance of today’s launch. Before liftoff, meet the #NS20 crew as they prepare for their journey to space. pic.twitter.com/O999O1Zdw1March 31, 2022

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Blue Origin is going to launch its next space tourist mission from its launch site in West Texas today. The mission will start at 9:30 a.m. You will be able to watch it on Space.com beginning at 9:00 a.m. The time is 1230 GMT.

Blue Origin will mark its first crewed flight of 2022. and the fourth crewed flight overall since it began launching passengers to space in July 2021. Jeff Bezos was one of the first people to be carried by Blue Origin. Bezos has driven past crews to the launch pad before, so he will likely be on hand for the launch.

Six passengers will be carried on this mission. They include:

  • Gary Lai,the chief architect of the New Shepard system, a reusable rocket-capsule combo. He joined Blue Origin in 2004 and was one of its first 20 employees;
  • Sharon Hagle,the founder of SpaceKids Global, a nonprofit that was established in 2015 to encourage students, especially girls, to push forward their STEAM (science, technology, education, art and math) education and pursue careers in space. SpaceKids is also a participant in "Postcards to Space," a program run by Blue Origin's nonprofit organization Club for the Future. 
  • Marc Hagle,husband of Sharon, is president and CEO of the property development corporation Tricor International.
  • Marty Allen, a past CEO and a current angel investor and mentor. He was the former CEO of the California Closet Company, which provides custom home storage ideas, along with Party America, which is now a nationwide retailer.
  • Jim Kitchen,a faculty member of the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, and an entrepreneur.
  • George Nield, president of Commercial Space Technologies, LLC, which seeks to broaden commercial space activities, and the former associate administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

The other crew members are paying passengers while Gary and George are guests of Blue Origin. Blue Origin has not disclosed what each of the paying passengers have paid for a flight on New Shepard, or what a single seat costs.

The crew spent the last two days training for the flight. There are some photos from the training.

There are 6 images, the first one is image 2 of 6 image 3 of 6 image 4 of 6 image 5 of 6

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism flight crew photos and training

Blue Origin's NS-20 crew visits their New Shepard rocket and capsule during preflight training. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism flight crew photos and training

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourist crew visits Launch Site One during preflight training. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism flight crew photos and training

The crew of Blue Origin's NS-20 stand on the launch pad gantry while training for their March 31, 2022 spaceflight. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism flight crew photos and training

Blue Origin NS-20 passenger George Nield listens during a training session with his crewmates. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism flight crew photos and training

Four of Blue Origin's NS-20 passengers listen during a training briefing for their March 31, 2022 launch. Gary Lai (top left) was added late to the mission and is chief architect of the New Shepard rocket. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism flight crew photos and training

Gary Lai, Blue Origin's chief architect of the reusable New Shepard system, listens intently during a training session to fly on the rocket he envisioned. (Image credit: Blue Origin)

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