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ASThe New Shepard suborbital flight demonstrates fundamental rocket physics and orbital mechanics without entering full orbit. During launch, powerful rocket thrust overcomes Earth’s gravity, accelerating the vehicle almost vertically to maximize altitude rather than horizontal speed. As it climbs past the Kármán line (~100 km), the engines shut down and the capsule enters freefall. Although gravity is still strong at this height, passengers experience weightlessness because they and the spacecraft accelerate downward at the same rate — creating microgravity conditions. The trajectory follows a ballistic arc governed purely by gravity and inertia. During descent, atmospheric drag increases rapidly, and parachutes deploy to convert kinetic energy into air resistance, ensuring a controlled landing in the Texas desert. The entire flight is a precise balance of thrust, gravity, and drag.
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