Blue Origin Capsule Experience Design | Role: Interaction Design Director, Client Relationship Lead
This project focused on shaping the experience touch points within Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule. Managing the crew’s well-being from launch preparation to apogee and the return phase of the flight was essential for the design approach.
Space Capsule Interior Design
Various elements were created to make the journey into space memorable. Thoughtful affordances for accommodating weightlessness and informing capsule occupants of the flight's stage were created. An overhead LED array made users aware of the countdown sequence and could aid in getting them back into their seating for the return to earth.
A Confidence-Inspiring View
As astronauts launch into space, their attention will focus on the window. This experience will likely be the most intimidating and uncertain part of the journey, and we wanted to give astronauts a sense of context and control. Geographic notations on the window indicate moments of altitude, such as the height at which airplanes fly or the height a weather balloon will reach. As the capsule launches into space, the lighting will move slowly up the window until it gets a ring of light surrounding the capsule, the Karman Line. When this line illuminates, astronauts know they have crossed into zero gravity.
Instructive Lighting
When it’s time for the selected astronaut to deploy the parachute, the window light will fade to orange. Mission Control will give the astronaut the go-ahead through their headset to push the parachute button in the handrest. Serving as a consistent indication of spacecraft status, an LED representation for each parachute will appear on the ceiling to indicate successful deployment. Should one parachute fail to deploy, its representative light will not illuminate, letting astronauts know (in addition to global communication from Mission Control) to prepare for a more forceful landing.
Handling Zero Gravity
Dimmed lighting places focus on natural light and the view through the window. Primary handles on each side of the window let astronauts take in the view while anchoring their feet on a textured ring at the top of the console. Astronauts move around the space using additional handles placed along the outer ring on the ceiling. Small still cameras are at the top and bottom of each window, one facing toward the astronaut and the other through the window. A ‘capture’ button on the outside of each window handle allows for easy and seamless capture of photos by each astronaut.
In the Footsteps of Greatness
By including thoughtful details like an homage to Neil Armstrong’s footprints in the astronaut’s footrest, the pioneers of the past and the path they have forged for this new generation of explorers are acknowledged. These surfaces provide a welcome anchor point for the astronauts physically and metaphorically as they experience the weightlessness of zero gravity conditions.
Blue Origin Capsule Experience Gallery