Watch the highlights of the Bezos-backed Blue Origin rocket's 4th flight

The latest Blue Origin test marks the fourth time this rocket and capsule have flown to space together.
 By 
Miriam Kramer
 on 
Watch the highlights of the Bezos-backed Blue Origin rocket's 4th flight
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The Jeff Bezos-founded spaceflight company Blue Origin successfully completed an uncrewed test on Sunday of a capsule and rocket that have flown to space three times previously.

In a new four-minute summary video, viewers can watch the capsule and rocket come in for smooth landings after launching from Blue Origin's test range in Texas.

This reusable New Shepard spaceflight system test marked one of the company's most complicated tests to date.

Usually, the New Shepard capsule -- designed to keep paying customers safe during a trip up to suborbital space and back -- uses three parachutes to slow down during its descent back to Earth. On Sunday, however, the capsule only deployed two. 

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Credit: blue origin

Aside from some spinning, the purposeful parachute failure didn't seem to seriously harm the capsule, and the craft came in for what looked like a pretty average landing even under just two chutes.

Eventually, Blue Origin hopes to use the New Shepard to launch space tourists about 100 kilometers into space, allowing them to feel weightlessness and see a breath-taking view of Earth during a suborbital rocket ride before coming back down to the planet.

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Topics Amazon

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Miriam Kramer

Miriam Kramer worked as a staff writer for Space.com for about 2.5 years before joining Mashable to cover all things outer space. She took a ride in weightlessness on a zero-gravity flight and watched rockets launch to space from places around the United States. Miriam received her Master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting from New York University in 2012, and she originally hails from Knoxville, Tennessee. Follow Miriam on Twitter at @mirikramer.


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