Australian woman among six crew to travel to space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flight

A Melbourne physicist is celebrating after becoming the first Australian female to travel to space.

A Melbourne physicist has made history by becoming the first Australian female to travel to space.

Media company Chicago Star founder Elaine Chia Hyde was part of a six-person crew aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket on its tenth human flight, alongside venture capitalist Lane Bess, TV host Jesús Calleja, reproductive endocrinologist Dr Richard Scott, Tushar Shah, and an undisclosed sixth crew member.

Raised in Australia, Ms Hyde, who is also the first Singaporean-born person to enter space, studied business and physics at the University of Melbourne before moving to the US for research roles, including an internship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Media company Chicago Star founder and physicist Elaine Chia Hyde has made history as the first Australian woman and Singaporean-born person to travel to space. Picture: Supplied

Raised in Australia, Ms Hyde studied business and physics at the University of Melbourne before moving to the United States for research roles, including an internship at the University of Pennsylvania. Picture: Supplied

“I think I left half myself up there. I feel like I’m still there, it’s a wonder. I can’t wait for you to go,” Ms Hyde said moments after arriving back on Earth.

“I thought I knew what home was, but when I was floating up there and you see it right there.. you get a new definition of what home is.

“It’s incredible and when I was in there (the rocket) it felt like it was a cradle made for me and I was so safe.”

Beyond her work in science, Ms Hyde also founded Eastside Enterprises, a research and development firm specialising in AI-assisted media products.

Now based in Florida, she lives with her husband, a fellow physicist, and their five children.

NS-30 liftoff! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/6lcKhc0Rt8

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) February 25, 2025

The flight, which lifted off Tuesday morning local time from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in Texas and lasted just over 10 minutes, was New Shepard’s fourth with crew since returning to action in December 2023 after more than two years being grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“There’s nothing like seeing the diversity among our crews, and this mission brought together people from all over the world—scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, and adventurers,” New Shepard’s senior vice president Phil Joyce said.

“It’s always inspiring to hear their unique perspectives about the life-changing impact of seeing Earth from space. Huge thanks to our customers for supporting our mission to build a road to space for the benefit of Earth.”

Elaine Chia Hyde joined the astronaut crew which had people from around the world including, Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Dr Richard Scott, Tushar Shah and an undisclosed sixth crew member. Picture: Supplied

Australian woman and physicist Elaine Chia Hyde was among six passengers who went into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. Picture: Supplied

New Shepard has now flown 52 people into space, including astronauts, tourists, scientists and Blue Origin owner Bezos and his guests.

For Mr Bess, this was his second time on the trip having previously flown on the NS-19 mission in 2021.

Originally published as Australian woman among six crew to travel to space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flight