The "OneEarth" Mission
NS-34
The 14th human spaceflight and the 34th mission for the New Shepard program lifted off on August 3, 2025. The crew representing people from around the world included: Arvi Bahal of India and the first Sikh in space; Gökhan Erdem of Turkey; Deborah Martorell of Puerto Rico; Lionel Pitchford of the United Kingdom; J.D. Russell of the United States; and H.E. Justin Sun of Hong Kong.
The "Stary Knights" Mission
NS-28
The 9th human spaceflight and the 28th mission for the New Shepard program lifted off on November 22, 2024. The crew included Emily Calandrelli a Science communicator, author, and television host; Marc Hagle and Sharon Hagle on their second spaceflight; Austin Litteral of AlphaAero; James "J.D." Russell of Alpha Funds; and Henry "Hank" Wolfond a pilot and CEO of Bayshore Capital.
About J.D. Russell
From Space to Venture Capital
James “J.D.” Russell is an American entrepreneur, investor, and former law enforcement officer whose career embodies innovation, leadership, and exploration. He is best known as the founder of InfoHOA, a national leader in technology-driven community management solutions, and the founder and managing partner of Alpha Funds, a venture capital company advancing aerospace and frontier technologies. Russell has built a reputation as a visionary who bridges the worlds of public service, business, and spaceflight.
In 2024, Russell made history aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-28 mission, becoming one of the first retired American police officers to travel into space and the 670th human to cross the Kármán Line. Less than a year later, he completed his second spaceflight, becoming the 9th commercial astronaut to enter space twice, joining Blue Origin’s NS-34 “OneEarth” mission, which featured an internationally diverse crew from five countries.
Early Career and Entrepreneurship
While pursuing his college education, Russell entered law enforcement, serving first as a police officer in Maryland and later as a federal Marine, Fish and Wildlife law enforcement game warden, where he was responsible for marine and wildlife resource protection. These experiences forged a deep commitment to integrity, community, and operational excellence that continue to define his leadership philosophy.
Transitioning from public service to entrepreneurship, Russell identified inefficiencies in the property services sector. In 2015, he founded HPS serving across Maryland and Delaware, and in 2018, launched InfoHOA, a software-centered platform designed to modernize homeowners association management. Along with his NS-28 crewmate, Austin Litteral, Russell founded Alpha Funds and AlphaAero.
Philanthropy and Legacy
Driven by personal loss and purpose, Russell founded the Victoria Russell Foundation, honoring the memory of his late daughter. The nonprofit promotes children’s literacy and provides support for families of first responders. Through its partnerships with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the foundation distributes free books to children under five in Harford County, Maryland and St. Mary’s County, Maryland, inspiring a love of reading and learning that continues to expand nationwide.
In 2025, Russell appeared during New York Fashion Week, walking in the RiseNow Fashion Show, founded by Amanda Nguyen, at the Forbes Building on 5th Avenue, wearing a custom Dior ensemble. His participation reflected his commitment to raising awareness and support for victims of sexual assault, aligning his public platform with a cause dedicated to dignity, healing, and empowerment.
Russell currently serves as a board member on the non-profit, Space for Humanity focusing on expanding access to space for all.
Recognition and Impact
From his early service in law enforcement to his ventures in business and space, Russell’s career exemplifies resilience, innovation, and human potential. His path from patrolling local communities to reaching the edge of space symbolizes what is possible when courage, compassion, and creativity converge.
Today, J.D. Russell continues to lead with vision across multiple disciplines, advancing technologies that improve life on Earth while inspiring humanity’s next frontier beyond it.
Recent Speaking Engagements
- MilSat Symposium, Silicon Valley Space Week 2025, Mountain View, California, speaking on commercial space capability
- Latin American Business Council (CEAL), Waldorf Astoria, Washington, D.C., speaking on “Space Technology and its Impact on Key Sectors” alongside Hunter Lahasky of Blue Origin, on a program that featured President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador and President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic.
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025), Sydney, Australia
Overview Effect & Flight Profile
Pre-launch and ascent
The crew's experience began with two days of on-site training at Launch Site One in West Texas to prepare them for the flight.
- Launch: For the crew, the experience begins with liftoff, as the rocket accelerates to more than three times the speed of sound.
- G-forces: During ascent, passengers are pushed into their seats as they experience the intense G-forces of launch. At the peak, they are propelled above the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space at 62 miles high (100 km).
The "Overview Effect"
Once the capsule separated from the booster rocket, the astronauts were able to unbuckle and float around the cabin for a few minutes.
- Weightlessness: Passengers experience a feeling of weightlessness, or microgravity, during this time.
- Views of Earth: The New Shepard capsule is equipped with large windows, providing a spectacular view of Earth's curve set against the blackness of space. Many astronauts describe seeing Earth from this perspective as a profound, life-changing moment known as the "Overview Effect".
Re-entry and landing
- Descent: The crew capsule then begins a "stable freefall" back toward Earth.
- Landing: The descent is slowed by the deployment of parachutes for a soft touchdown in the desert near the launch site. The process has been likened to a powerful but manageable rollercoaster ride.
- Relief and exhilaration: After landing, the crew is met by a recovery team. Past crews have expressed intense feelings of relief, joy, and a renewed perspective on humanity and Earth.
The New Sheppard Missions
- 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.