Jim Kitchen, a management professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, is a member of the crew of the Blue Origin, which completed its fourth successful space research journey on Thursday.
Jim has a diverse set of academic and professional credentials and is currently a UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School professor of strategy and entrepreneurial practice.
UNC professor Jim Kitchen becomes the first person to travel to space after visiting all UN countries
In the fourth Blue Origin launch with passengers on board, UNC professor Jim Kitchen successfully went to space and returned safely to Earth. The premiere was originally set for March 23 with comedian Pete Davidson, but it was postponed due to a scheduling difficulty for Davidson.
The launch was supposed to happen at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, but it was again postponed. Nonetheless, the launch took occurred at about 10 a.m. Within a few minutes, all six crew members—Jim Kitchen, Marty Allen, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, George Nield, and Blue Origin staffer Gary Lai—traveled to space and returned safely.
Kitchen emerged from the space capsule after landing, waving a flag that read “194,” referring to the fact that space is the 194th place he’s visited. He is the first and only person in human history to go to all 193 UN-recognized countries and cross the Kármán line.
Kitchen explained, “I carried all of my passports with me, symbolizing all of the countries in the world, and this was pushing the final boundary.” “Let me tell you, going to space was an out-of-body experience. ‘You’re traveling 2,300 mph and you feel every bit of it,’ I thought on the way up.”
Kitchen’s mission was Blue Origin’s fourth and first crewed flight to space in 2022. “It’s a highly personal thing for me to be the first person to visit every country and then to experience it from space,” Kitchen said.
Marty Allen, a CEO and investor, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, and George Nield, a former NASA manager, were among the other astronauts on the journey. Marc Hagle is the CEO of Tricor International, a commercial and residential real estate firm. Sharon, his wife, launched SpaceKids Global, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring youngsters to pursue careers in space.
Gary Lai, a Blue Origin employee, was also aboard the flight, filling the empty spot left by Davidson’s cancellation.
Jim Kitchen Age, Birthday, Family, and Early Life
Jim was born in Boca Raton, Florida on August 15, 1964. However, we do not have any details regarding his family background. He likes to keep his family secrets private from the general public.
He barely mentions his family in his interview.
Jim Kitchen Career, What was his profession?
While at UNC-Chapel Hill, Kitchen began his first business, focusing on group vacations to the Caribbean. He learned some of the most essential lessons of his life while sleeping in grass huts in Nicaragua, serving in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, and visiting isolated villages in Africa and Asia.
As an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and a mentor to multiple startup enterprises, he now focuses the majority of his time and talents on helping others.
Jim Kitchen Net Worth, How much does he earn?
Jim Kitchen’s net worth is believed to be $20 million. Professor Kitchen’s first company, which specialized in Caribbean group vacations, was started while he was still a UNC student.
Which school or college did he go to?
Kitchen graduated from Boca Raton High School. Afterward, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Russian and Eastern European Studies from the University of North Carolina.
He also earned two masters’ degrees, an MBA from the University of Tennessee, as well as a Masters’s in Political Management from George Washington University.
Is Jim Kitchen married? Who is his wife?
Jim Kitchen is happily married to his wife, Susan Kitchen. He has two children.
He has disclosed details information about his wife and family.
Is Jim Kitchen available on any kind of social media platform?
Jim Kitchen is active on Instagram as @jim.kitchen with 63.6k+ followers. He is also available on Twitter as @JimKitchen with 3,294+ Followers.
Body Appearance of Jim Kitchen’s Height, Weight
| Height | In Feet: N / A Centimeter: N / A Meter: N / A |
| Hair color | White |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Weight | Kilogram: N / A Pound: N / A |
| Body type | Fit |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
Interesting facts about Jim Kitchen’s you should be known
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Age | 32 |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouses | Susan |
| Children | 2 |