Crew for New Shepard Mission NS-38 Introduced
Suborbital Space Tourism Flight Slated for January 22
Blue Origin has announced the crew and launch date for New Shepard Mission NS-38. Liftoff from Launch Site One in West Texas is slated for Thursday, January 22, with the launch window opening at 9:30 am EST
The crew includes Tim Drexler, Linda Edwards, Alain Fernandez, Alberto Gutiérrez, Jim Hendren, and Andrew Yaffe. To date, Blue Origin has flown 92 humans (86 individuals) above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
Meet the Crew
Tim Drexler is the former owner and CEO of Ace Asphalt, where he spent 40 years building the family business into a major civil contracting firm. In 2002, he was recognized with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. After selling the company, Tim pursued his passion for aviation, becoming both a helicopter and airplane pilot. Outside the cockpit, he is an avid gardener, cook, mountain biker, and home-automation enthusiast. Tim has been married to his wife, Pam, for 19 years. Traveling to space will be Tim’s next great leap in aviation.
Dr. Linda Edwards is a retired board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist whose 40-year career was dedicated to caring for women. While working full-time after high school, she earned her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Penn State University and later her medical degree from The Medical College of Pennsylvania. A traveler to more than 40 countries, wildlife advocate, award-winning equestrian, and two-time breast cancer survivor, she embraces her flight on New Shepard as the fulfillment of a dream four decades in the making for her. She hopes her flight helps to inspire other women to reach for their dreams.
Alain Fernandez is an international real estate developer and investor whose three-decade career reflects resilience, discipline, and a relentless drive to carve his own path after a difficult apprenticeship in industrial mechanics. His early years as a scuba instructor across Europe and French Polynesia were marked by a life-altering diving accident at age 22, after which he rebuilt his career through perseverance and entrepreneurial instinct. A dedicated athlete, Alain lives with his wife, stepdaughter, and a lively family of pets. He approaches his New Shepard mission as another opportunity to push himself and explore what’s possible.
Alberto Gutiérrez is an entrepreneur, technologist, and world traveler who has visited more than 100 countries across all seven continents. In 2008, he began writing travel guides, which evolved into Civitatis, a leading tours and activities platform serving over one million travelers per month. His voyage on New Shepard offers a new vantage point from which to appreciate the world he has spent a lifetime exploring.
Jim Hendren is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former F-15 fighter pilot, and past Commander of the 157th Combat Operations Squadron, with multiple overseas combat deployments. Additionally, Jim is the founder of Hendren Plastics Inc., a global manufacturing company. A Master Electrician, General Contractor, FAA-licensed airline pilot, and dedicated public servant, he spent 15 years on the Gravette School Board and served in both chambers of the Arkansas Legislature, including as Senate President Pro Tempore. A father of four and grandfather of twelve, Jim views his New Shepard flight as a natural extension of his lifelong passion for aviation, exploration, and service.
Andrew Yaffe was born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and has spent his life in the recycling industry, driven by a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. His interest in space began early, sparked by Star Trek, and grew into a deep fascination with human spaceflight, planetary exploration, and astronomy. A passionate traveler who enjoys experiencing different cultures and studying ancient history, Andrew is excited to fly to space as it’ll be a continuation of his lifelong curiosity about humanity’s place in the universe and our shared responsibility to care for Earth.
Dr. Edwards' transition from obstetrician to space tourist neatly captures how commercial spaceflight is democratizing access beyond career astronauts. The fact she's a two-time breast cancer survivor adds another layer to the resilence story. Suborbital tourism finally delivering on promises made in the early 2000s feels signifcant. Once saw an interview where astronauts talked about the overview effect changing their perspective on Earht, curious how that translates for 11-minute experiences versus weeks-long missions.