Jeff Bezos Makes History With Space Flight

Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos made history when he launched into space and parachuted back to Earth on Tuesday morning (July 20).

Bezos’ company, Blue Origin, has live tweeted the billionaire's historic liftoff and landing in West Texas. Bezos, the richest man in the world, embarked on the highly-anticipated journey with a civilian crew, marking the first launch for Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.

Blue Origin wrote in a tweet Tuesday morning:

"Capsule, touchdown! Welcome home to #NewShepard’s first astronaut crew. A truly historic day. #NSFirstHumanFlight

The company added shortly after:

“Congratulations to all of Team Blue past and present on reaching this historic moment in spaceflight history. This first astronaut crew wrote themselves into the history books of space, opening the door through which many after will pass. #GradatimFerociter#NSFirstHumanFlight”

Tuesday morning marked the 16th flight for New Shepard, but the first one with occupants on board, according to Blue Origin, which steamed a live broadcast of the launch.

Wally Funk, 82, one of the occupants of the New Shepard rocket on Tuesday, broke a record as the oldest person in space. The record was previously held by John Glenn, who was 77 at the time, according to Space.com, a hub for news coverage about astronomy.

The launch also included the youngest person to blast into space, Oliver Daemen, 18, who filled a seat by standing in for the winner of an auction who decided to take a later flight instead, the Associated Press reports. The previous record-holder was 25 years old.

Watch Blue Origin's replay of the flight here.