Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 37th Mission

Today, Blue Origin announced the six people flying on its NS-37 mission. The crew includes Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neal Milch, Adonis Pouroulis, and Jason Stansell. 

To date, Blue Origin has flown 86 people (80 individuals) above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. The flight date will be announced soon. The live webcast on launch day will start 40 minutes before liftoff.

Meet the Crew 

Michaela Benthaus 

Michi, an aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency, has dedicated her career to scientific collaboration for the advancement of interplanetary exploration. In 2018, she was involved in a mountain biking accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury impacting her ability to walk; undeterred, she has continued to pursue her passion for access and advocate for greater access to space. Michi flew aboard a Zero-G research flight in 2022 and completed an analog astronaut mission. She continues to pursue sporting activities outside of work, including wheelchair tennis. 

Joey Hyde 

A physicist and quantitative investor, Joey recently retired from his career at a leading hedge fund. He lives in Florida with his wife and five children. His grandparents ignited his fascination with space when they brought him to watch the 1988 launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, which sparked a lifelong curiosity in human spaceflight and exploration, leading to him earning a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. Joey sees his flight with Blue Origin as a continuation of his commitment to advancing science and inspiring future generations of explorers. 

Hans Koenigsmann 

Hans is a German-American aerospace engineer whose career has been dedicated to advancing reusable spacecraft and launch vehicles, most notably as an early team member at SpaceX, where he spent two decades. He is one of the world’s most renowned rocket scientists and remains actively engaged in the aerospace and space exploration community, serving in advisory and board roles across multiple aerospace companies. He is also a licensed pilot who built his own airplane, an avid skier, and the proud father of two daughters. He is excited to share his experience to inspire the next generation of space exploration. 

Neal Milch 

A global business executive and entrepreneur, Neal launched his career through LaundryLux, a family-owned business, where he seized opportunities to provide the highest quality products to customers. He now serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Jackson Laboratory, a nonprofit biomedical research institute, where he supports genetic research to improve human health. Growing up watching the Gemini and Apollo programs, he adopted the Latin phrase, “In Omnia Paratus,” meaning “Ready for Anything,” to guide his pursuit of science and discovery. 

Adonis Pouroulis 

As a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and mining engineer, Adonis brings over 30 years of experience in the natural resources and energy sector with a strong focus on critical minerals, metals, and sustainable energy solutions across Africa and beyond. He is the founder and chairman of Pella Resources, co-founder of Energy Revolution Ventures, chairman of Rainbow Rare Earths, and the CEO of Chariot Limited, which are advancing and developing innovative technologies and global opportunities in the energy transition. His career and philanthropic work reflect a consistent commitment to education and the responsible and sustainable development of Earth’s resources, combining technical expertise with a vision for long-term environmental and social impacts. His flight aboard New Shepard represents a lifelong dream to see the world from space. 

Jason Stansell 

A self-proclaimed space nerd rooted in West Texas, Jason has watched the space industry expand to offer commercial space flight opportunities from his own backyard. With a degree in computer science from Tulane University, he has channeled his enthusiasm for creativity, passion for adventure, and love of science and physics into scuba diving, driving cars, riding motorcycles, flying planes, and studying rocketry. Jason is looking to inspire healthy skepticism and promote science education through his experience. He is also dedicating his flight to his brother, Kevin, who passed away in 2016 to a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. 

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New Shepard Astronauts by Mission 

• NS-36 (October 8, 2025): Franchise industry executive Jeff Elgin; entrepreneur and mountaineer Danna Karagussova; technology leader and NS-22 astronaut Clint Kelly III; businessman Will Lewis; entrepreneur and explorer Aaron Newman; and businessman and real estate investor Vitalii Ostrovsky. 
• NS-34 (August 3, 2025): Real estate investor Arvi Bahal; Turkish businessman Gökhan Erdem; Puerto Rican meteorologist Deborah Martorell; British teacher Lionel Pitchford; entrepreneur and NS-28 astronaut J.D. Russell; and Tron founder H.E. Justin Sun, who placed the winning bid for the first seat on New Shepard in 2021.   
• NS-33 (June 29, 2025): Philanthropist Leland (Lee) Larson; conservationist Allie Kuehner and her husband, Carl Kuehner, a real estate developer and conservationist; President and CEO of Commodity Cables Freddie Rescigno, Jr.; lawyer and financial consultant Owolabi Salis; and attorney Jim Sitkin. 
• NS-32 (May 31, 2025): K-12 STEM teacher Aymette Medina Jorge; radiologist and explorer Dr. Gretchen Green; former Panamanian ambassador to the United States Jaime Alemán; entrepreneur Jesse Williams; aerospace executive Mark Rocket; and entrepreneur Paul Jeris. 
• NS-31 (April 14, 2025): Entrepreneur and global STEM advocate Aisha Bowe; bioastronautics research scientist and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyễn; CBS Mornings co-host and Oprah Daily editor-at-large Gayle King; global pop superstar Katy Perry; film producer Kerianne Flynn; and New York Times bestselling author, pilot, and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez.  
• NS-30 (February 25, 2025): Entrepreneur Elaine Hyde; Spanish adventurer and TV host Jesús Calleja; Bess Ventures Founder and NS-19 Astronaut Lane Bess; reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Richard Scott; quantitative researcher Tushar Shah; and an undisclosed sixth crew member.  
• NS-28 (November 22, 2024): Business professional Austin Litteral; MIT engineer and TV host Emily Calandrelli; Bayshore Capital CEO Henry Wolfond; entrepreneur James (J.D.) Russell; and philanthropists Sharon Hagle and her husband, Marc, who both previously flew on NS-20.  
• NS-26 (August 29, 2024): Cardiologist Dr. Eiman Jahangir; entrepreneur Ephraim Rabin; entrepreneur Eugene Grin; Orbitelle founder Karsen Kitchen; entrepreneur Nicolina Elrick; and University of Florida Professor Rob Ferl.  
• NS-25 (May 19, 2024): Retired CPA Carol Schaller; former Air Force Captain and first Black astronaut candidate Ed Dwight; pilot Gopi Thotakura; Family Tree Maker founder Ken Hess; Industrious Ventures investor Mason Angel; and French entrepreneur Sylvain Chiron.  
• NS-22 (August 4, 2022): Technology leader Clint Kelly III; Dude Perfect cofounder Coby Cotton; Portuguese entrepreneur Mário Ferreira; Egyptian mechanical and biomedical engineer Sara Sabry; telecommunications executive Steve Young; and British-American mountaineer Vanessa O’Brien.  
• NS-21 (June 4, 2022): Investor and NS-19 Astronaut Evan Dick; pilot and Action Aviation Chairman Hamish Harding; adventurer and Dream Variation Ventures Co-Founder Jaison Robinson; electrical engineer and former NASA test lead Katya Echazarreta; civil production engineer Victor Correa Hespanha; and Insight Equity Founder and explorer Victor Vescovo, Commander, USN (Ret.).  
• NS-20 (March 31, 2022): New Shepard Chief Architect Gary Lai; president of Commercial Space Technologies, LLC, and former associate administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation Dr. George Nield; entrepreneur and adventurer Jim Kitchen; real estate executive Marc Hagle; executive and investor Marty Allen; and SpaceKids Global Founder Sharon Hagle.  
• NS-19 (December 11, 2021): Content creator Cameron Bess; space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor; investor Evan Dick; Bess Ventures Founder Lane Bess; the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American to fly to space, and the namesake of New Shepard Laura Shepard Churchley, and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan.  
• NS-18 (October 13, 2021): Blue Origin’s Vice President, New Shepard Mission & Flight Operations Audrey Powers; entrepreneur and Planet Labs Co-Founder Dr. Chris Boshuizen; entrepreneur Glen de Vries; and actor William Shatner.  
• NS-16 (July 20, 2021): Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos; volunteer firefighter and co-founder of HighPost Capital Mark Bezos; student Oliver Daemen; and aviator Wally Funk.