On October 8, 2025, Kazakh citizen Danna Karagussova successfully completed a suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, becoming the first woman from Kazakhstan and the wider CIS, to travel into space. The mission marked the 15th crewed flight and the 16th successful launch and landing of the NS4 rocket operated by the company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Karagussova’s return was announced by her son, Aituar Alibekov, on the social media platform Threads: “She’s back. The first space tourist from Kazakhstan and the CIS. Love you and so proud of you, Mom.”
According to SciNews, the New Shepard launched from Blue Origin’s West Texas facility and returned to Earth approximately 10 to 12 minutes later, landing at 13:30 UTC (08:30 Texas time).
Karagussova was joined by five other passengers: entrepreneur Jeff Elgin, engineer Clint Kelly III, startup founder Aaron Newman, Ukrainian businessman Vitalii Ostrovsky, and one individual who remained anonymous. The spacecraft reached an altitude of around 100 kilometers, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, where passengers experienced several minutes of weightlessness and panoramic views of Earth.
Ticket prices for Blue Origin’s commercial flights have not been publicly disclosed.
Before the launch, Karagussova shared a photo from aboard the spacecraft, generating significant attention on social media. Kazakh blogger and entrepreneur Beibit Alibekov, her former husband, praised her accomplishment, emphasizing its historic significance.
Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported on Karagussova’s upcoming flight as part of Blue Origin’s NS-36 mission, part of a series of suborbital flights the company has conducted since 2021.
Karagussova is a prominent Kazakh entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in media, event management, and distribution. She is also the co-founder of the Portals project, which combines science, art, and digital self-regulation technologies.
Beyond her professional life, she is an avid mountaineer, having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus, endeavors she sees as symbolic of her persistence and ambition.
“The future of humanity lies in space. By exploring new horizons, we not only advance technology but also expand our own potential. For me, the NS-36 mission with Blue Origin is part of a research project and a step toward a dream I have pursued for many years,” she wrote on Instagram.
Karagussova’s flight represents a milestone for Kazakhstan and the post-Soviet region. Globally, only a limited number of non-professional astronauts have traveled beyond Earth’s atmosphere, making her achievement a noteworthy addition to the growing history of commercial spaceflight.
