107 | The Flight of New Shepard 21 with Victor Vescovo
Victor Vescovo is a private equity investor, retired naval officer, undersea explorer, and space tourist. He is the founder, Chief Executive, and Chief Submersible Pilot at Caladan Oceanic, a private marine research organization. As an adventurer, Victor has reached the North and South Poles, climbed the Seven Summits, and visited the deepest points of all the Earth’s oceans during the Five Deeps Expedition of 2018-2019. In 2022, Victor flew to space as a space tourist aboard New Shepard—a reusable suborbital launch vehicle developed by Blue Origin—as part of the Blue Origin NS-21 mission, and was afterward regarded by Forbes as the “First to Climb Everest, Visit Ocean’s Deepest Depth, and Fly to the Final Frontier.”
Victor joins me today to share his experience flying to space onboard New Shepard. He describes what it was like to go beyond Mach 3 and explains why it’s important not to focus on the interiors of the rocket capsule upon reaching space. He discusses his childhood dream to become an astronaut and shares his thoughts on finding one’s life path. Victor also highlights the value of being a good person and offers advice to young people dreaming of flying to space.
“When people ask what’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, I have to admit, looking down from space, that it’s the curvature of the Earth with the atmosphere. Nothing beats down that experience.”
- Victor Vescovo
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● What made Victor want to go to space
● The importance of personal connection and being a good person
● How his sense of space adventure has evolved in his adult years
● The Corn Ranch Launch Site at Van Horn, Texas
● The training and psychological-medical screening involved to become part of the NS-21 mission
● How Blue Origin tries to craft camaraderie and diversity
● The days leading to the flight of New Shepard
● Why Blue Origin was strict on bringing items aboard New Shepard
● Weight, propulsion, gravity, and safety
● The overview effect and how the NS-21 mission impacted Victor’s life
● The descent of New Shepard
Our Favorite Quotes:
● “I thought it would be like going really high up on a plane, but no, this was materially different. The Earth was below you, and there was a thin layer of atmosphere that you could see; there’s a yellow sun on a black background. It told you you’re in space. And floating.” - Victor Vescovo
● “We all find our own path; I eventually found my way to space, though it took longer than expected. You just have to hold on to those dreams and, hopefully, someday circumstances will provide the opportunity.” - Victor Vescovo
Related Content:
Connect with Victor Vescovo:
● Caladan Oceanic on Instagram
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.
I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.
In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are… spaceship not required.
Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.