Originally Posted by blackshire

Many astronomers fly telescopes (particularly ones for use at wavelengths that are blocked by the Earth's atmosphere) on sounding rockets, because it can take years to book observing time on a space telescope. While such telescopes are often flown multiple times, they have to be rugged (and thus more expensive) in order to withstand the high ascent accelerations and ground impacts under their parachutes. Also, the rockets' solid propellants emit smoke after final-stage burnout, which can dirty-up the telescope optics and/or obscure the view New Shepard can provide gentle rides for telescopes, which can thus be more cheaply built, and its clean (with positive cut-off) propulsion system is free from the smoke and outgassing that can mar the telescopes' views. As well: