CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Jim Kitchen is set to travel to space on Blue Origin’s next civilian flight on Mar. 23 that also includes comedian Pete Davidson.
Kitchen is a professor at the university’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He’s also an avid traveler, having traveled to 193 countries.
Kitchen and Davidson will be joined by four others: investor Marty Allen, philanthropists Sharon and Marc Hagle, and Dr. George Nield.
It's official... I'm going to space with @blueorigin! https://t.co/F6aYxYlMnK
— Jim Kitchen (@JimKitchen) March 14, 2022
In a video on Twitter, Kitchen says going into space has been a dream for him since he was a young child.
“I watched an Apollo launch and wanted to be an astronaut and you know it’s been a life long dream, and I’m so happy to be able to do this,” said Kitchen.
Kitchen says the flight will be going at a speed of 2,300 miles per hour.
Having traveled around the globe, it’s going to be very special to see it from space. I am truly honored and beyond thrilled for the #NewShepard mission with @blueorigin on March 23! 🚀 #NC20 pic.twitter.com/y7Hy33puWk
— Jim Kitchen (@JimKitchen) March 14, 2022
Each astronaut on board will carry a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, whose Postcards to Space program gives students access to space on Blue Origin’s rockets.
It will be the fourth flight by the Jeff Bezos-owned New Shepard program and the 20th spaceflight overall.
The flight will launch from West Texas around 9: 30 a.m. eastern time.
(WATCH BELOW: $450,000 can buy you a ticket to space)
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