Blue Origin Complete 13th New Shepard Flight with People Aboard
Blue Origin Flight Update
Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its 13th human spaceflight and the 33rd flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: Allie Kuehner and her husband, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno, Jr., Owolabi Salis, and Jim Sitkin. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 70 people to space, including four who have flown twice.
“One thing this crew shares in common is an appreciation of our planet’s beauty and the need to preserve it for future generations,” said Audrey Powers, VP, Mission and Flight Operations. “Thank you to our customers for entrusting us to provide this life-changing view. I look forward to seeing how you transform this experience into action.”
Spaceflight Participants
Carl Kuehner
Carl serves as Chairman of Building and Land Technology (BLT), a real estate development, investment, and property management firm dedicated to building communities and ecosystems that promote long-term growth and sustainability. Under his leadership, BLT has redefined urban development by integrating innovative design with a deep commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact. Deeply committed to conservation, Carl champions efforts to sustain, restore, and enhance wildlife and natural habitats, sustainable food systems, and environmental restoration projects through business strategy and philanthropic initiatives. His work reflects a belief that responsible development and social stewardship go hand in hand, creating a legacy that balances progress with purpose.
Leland Larson
Leland is a philanthropist and former CEO of School Bus Services, Inc. and Larson Transportation Services. Both are family-owned businesses based in Oregon focused on public transportation systems regionally and nationally. In 1997, Leland co-founded the Larson Legacy, a philanthropic foundation focused on supporting hundreds of progressive nonprofits domestically and internationally. Early in his career, Leland was a teacher, worked in the Army counseling soldiers on their educational aspirations, and served as a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1968, which wrote the present-day Constitution of Hawaii. Leland is a passionate gardener and beekeeper, raises koi fish and chickens, and cherishes spending time with monks in the high mountains of Tibet.
Freddie Rescigno, Jr.
Freddie is an Italian-American entrepreneur, business owner, and competitive golfer based in Suwanee, Georgia. He is President and CEO of Commodity Cables, a company he founded in 2001 that services the electrical distribution market for wire and cable needs. His passion for archeological discoveries is at the heart of his interest in space. A lifelong golfer, Freddie has competed as an amateur at the state and national levels for 20 years. He is a father of three boys, who have inherited his same love for golf and Italian culture.
Owolabi Salis
Owolabi is an attorney and a financial consultant. He is the author of Equitocracy, which presents a vision for democracy that prioritizes equity among diverse groups. Owolabi is also a key member of The Soul Maker Ministry, which preaches diversity given the diverse nature of the universe. He is dedicating this mission to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations.
Jim Sitkin
Jim practiced law in California for four decades before retirement. His expertise focused on employment class actions on behalf of non-unionized employees, challenging industries that traditionally had rejected application of various employee protections. Jim is a volunteer for a global NGO, facilitating meetings with government and community leaders in Central Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. A lifelong adventurer, Jim has explored seven continents and has dreamt of space since he was a child growing up watching Star Trek. Jim and his wife, Sue, live in California with their very fat cat, Hickory.