NASA moon-landing tech hitches ride to space on Bezos rocket

The New Shepard rocket lifts off in Texas, to test new lunar-landing technology for NASA that could help put astronauts back on the moon by 2024. — Blue Origin via AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company launched a New Shepard rocket for a seventh time from a remote corner of Texas on Oct 13, testing new lunar-landing technology for NASA that could help put astronauts back on the moon.

The entire flight – barely skimming space with a peak altitude of 66 miles (106 kilometers) – lasted just 10 minutes. The booster landed vertically back at the launch complex after liftoff, and the capsule followed, parachuting onto the desert floor.