Blue Origin flights use the New Shepard rocket system to send people and cargo above the Kármán line, hitting 100 kilometers in altitude. These trips last about 11 minutes and give you several minutes of weightlessness and jaw-dropping views of Earth before heading back home.
Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000, and the company’s main office sits in Kent, Washington. With 11,000 employees spread across different facilities, Blue Origin has pulled off 34 New Shepard missions by 2025.
The New Shepard system features a reusable booster rocket and a crew capsule. The booster runs on a single BE-3PM engine that cranks out 490 kilonewtons of thrust.
The capsule can fit up to six people or cargo, depending on the mission.
Each flight climbs up to 100.5 kilometers above sea level. Passengers get around four minutes of weightlessness and can stare out at Earth’s curve through huge windows.
Blue Origin designed the whole system to be fully reusable. The crew capsule comes down gently with three parachutes and a solid rocket motor. The booster lands vertically back on the same launch pad.
Launch Site One is about 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. Blue Origin has nailed 26 successful launches and landings, with only a few hiccups along the way. That’s a pretty solid safety record, honestly (reliable safety systems).
Blue Origin flights aren’t just about space tourism. The company also runs both crewed and uncrewed missions that carry scientific experiments, tech demos, and commercial payloads.
Space tourism is still the main draw, though. Jeff Bezos himself, his brother Mark, aviation legend Wally Funk, and a bunch of paying customers have all flown. In April 2025, Blue Origin even sent an all-female crew of six.
On the research side, some missions carry experiments that need microgravity. These payloads benefit from a few minutes of weightlessness and a gentle, controlled landing.
Blue Origin also uses New Shepard to test out tech for future orbital missions. Each flight brings in fresh data and experience, helping them build the bigger New Glenn orbital rocket.
The team takes things step by step. Every suborbital mission adds to their knowledge and gets them closer to orbital flights and even lunar projects.
Blue Origin stands apart from other commercial space companies in a bunch of ways. SpaceX mostly focuses on orbital stuff and satellites, while Blue Origin leans into suborbital tourism and research.
Mission Duration and Altitude:
Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s company, uses an air-launched spaceplane rather than a rocket. Their flights don’t reach quite as high but still offer that weightless feeling.
Blue Origin’s flights run on autopilot, so passengers don’t have to worry about flying anything. Virgin Galactic has human pilots up front. SpaceX, on the other hand, needs astronauts with serious training for their longer, orbital trips.
The New Shepard capsule gives you bigger windows and a roomier cabin compared to Virgin Galactic. Both companies want the same customers, but their tech and the experience you get are pretty different.
Ticket prices jump around between companies, but Blue Origin goes for that premium, high-end market—right alongside Virgin Galactic’s suborbital rides.
New Shepard is Blue Origin’s main suborbital spacecraft. It’s fully autonomous and takes six passengers past the Kármán line at 100 kilometers up.
The system packs in advanced safety features and full reusability, making it possible to fly again and again without breaking the bank.
New Shepard doesn’t need pilots—everything runs on autopilot. The rocket launches passengers at over three times the speed of sound before crossing into space.
The crew capsule gives every person a window seat inside a pressurized cabin. Six passengers ride together in a climate-controlled space for the 11-minute trip.
The capsule keeps things comfortable the whole way. Temperature and pressure systems keep everyone safe while they float above Earth for a few minutes.
Key specs: The vehicle crosses the space boundary at 62 miles up, and those windows let you see Earth’s curve during your brief time in microgravity.
Autonomous flight systems take care of all navigation and control. This setup removes human mistakes from the equation and keeps safety standards consistent.
The New Shepard booster lands vertically back on Earth after each flight. Reusability saves a ton of money compared to rockets that just burn up and disappear.
The booster and capsule land separately. The booster uses powered landing tech to touch down right at the launch site in West Texas.
Reusability perks: Lower costs and faster turnaround between flights. Blue Origin can check and refurbish the same rocket for multiple missions instead of building new ones every time.
By April 2025, the system has flown over 30 times. That’s a pretty good track record for a commercial space tourism vehicle.
The booster lands with impressive accuracy, returning to the same pad. That precision cuts down recovery time and lets Blue Origin fly more often.
New Shepard gives you an 11-minute ride past the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth. You’ll get two days of training, a wild launch, and a few minutes to float around with epic views.
Passengers show up at Launch Site One in West Texas two days before their flight. The site sits in the Guadalupe Mountains near Van Horn, and crews stay at the Astronaut Village.
The training program is a two-day crash course in spaceflight basics. You’ll learn about New Shepard’s mission and safety systems. Zero-gravity protocols are a big deal here, so you’ll practice how to move safely when you’re weightless.
Mission simulations walk you through every part of the flight. Training covers emergency procedures and crew escape system drills. Blue Origin trainers, called “Crew Member Seven,” guide the group through it all.
The climate-controlled setup helps you adjust to the desert. West Texas is famous for clear skies—perfect for launches. Training wraps up with a final safety briefing on launch morning.
The New Shepard rocket engine fires up with everyone strapped in the pressurized capsule. The rocket blasts off, hitting more than three times the speed of sound.
Each seat sits next to massive windows—about a third of the capsule is just glass.
During the climb, the booster separates from the capsule. Passengers feel rising G-forces as the rocket speeds up. The whole ascent takes about three or four minutes.
When the engine cuts off, the capsule crosses the Kármán line. Suddenly, you’re weightless. That’s when passengers can unbuckle and start floating around inside.
The flight peaks above the space boundary. Through those windows, you get a clear look at Earth’s curve and the thin blue atmosphere against the blackness of space.
After crossing the Kármán line at 100 kilometers, passengers float in true weightlessness for about four minutes. The cabin is roomy, so you can really move around. There’s no gravity, so everything drifts.
Looking out, Earth appears as a curved ball with a razor-thin blue line of atmosphere. The windows are built for photos and soaking up the view. People say it’s a perspective you never forget.
When the capsule starts heading back down, gravity slowly returns. Passengers get back in their seats and buckle up.
The crew capsule opens parachutes for a soft landing in the Texas desert. Recovery teams show up just minutes later.
The whole trip, from launch to landing, takes about 11 minutes. The booster lands itself nearby, ready for another round.
Blue Origin launches all New Shepard suborbital flights from Launch Site One in West Texas. Every flight takes you 62 miles up, right past the official edge of space.
The company relies on a controlled landing and recovery system that brings both the crew capsule and booster back safely.
Launch Site One sits in the West Texas desert, about 25 miles north of Van Horn. The private facility runs under FAA licenses and experimental permits that cover New Shepard’s suborbital flights.
The site sprawls across a remote ranch at 31.451646°N, -104.762835°W. This isolated spot gives Blue Origin the safety space they need for rocket launches, plus clear skies for lift-off.
What’s at the facility?
Blue Origin picked this area because it’s wide open and has almost no air traffic. It’s both a launch site and a main testing ground.
New Shepard missions take off from vertical platforms here. The rocket launches passengers at over three times the speed of sound as it heads to space.
The crew capsule separates from the booster at the top of the flight. Passengers float around for a few minutes above the 62-mile mark.
The capsule uses parachutes to slow down for landing. Three big chutes deploy, and the capsule touches down softly in the desert near Launch Site One.
The booster lands itself with powered descent right back at the pad. This lets Blue Origin reuse the same rocket hardware over and over.
Ground crews quickly recover the capsule and booster after each mission. Blue Origin checks and refurbishes everything before the next flight.
Recovery usually happens just miles from where the rocket took off. Keeping everything close cuts down on transport time and costs, and keeps the whole operation inside Blue Origin’s own airspace.
Since 2021, Blue Origin has flown 75 people above the Kármán line across 34 New Shepard missions. They run regular human spaceflight launches from West Texas, all while pushing forward with NASA partnerships for lunar exploration.
On July 20, 2021, Blue Origin launched its first crewed mission, NS-16. Jeff Bezos brought his brother Mark, aviator Wally Funk, and student Oliver Daemen along for the ride.
By August 2025, Blue Origin had completed 14 human spaceflight missions. Each New Shepard flight takes six passengers on a 10-minute suborbital trip, right up to the edge of space.
They’ve had some famous faces on board. William Shatner joined NS-18, and Michael Strahan flew on NS-19. NS-31 was a star-studded mission, with Gayle King, Katy Perry, and STEM advocate Aisha Bowe all on board.
Blue Origin keeps showing off its operational chops. During NS-33, the booster and capsule landed within just a few hundred meters of each other—pretty impressive.
Back in 2021, Justin Sun paid $28 million for the first New Shepard seat. That money went to 19 space-focused charities through Blue Origin’s Club for the Future.
The company has kept up a steady launch rhythm, with three crewed missions happening between April and June 2025. That kind of consistency is making Blue Origin look like a real contender in commercial spaceflight.
Before flying people, Blue Origin ran 20 uncrewed payload missions with New Shepard. These test flights checked out the spacecraft systems and carried scientific experiments.
Thanks to its reusable rocket design, Blue Origin can fly research payloads over and over. Every mission gives several minutes of microgravity for experiments.
They’ve teamed up with schools and universities to fly educational payloads. Students get the chance to send their experiments into space on suborbital flights.
The New Shepard program proves Blue Origin’s vertical takeoff and landing tech works. They plan to use the same approach for their bigger New Glenn orbital rocket, which is still in development.
Blue Origin plays a big role in NASA’s Artemis program with its Human Landing System project. They’re building the Blue Moon lunar lander for astronaut missions to the moon.
The BE-7 engine, fueled by hydrogen, powers Blue Origin’s lunar lander. They designed it specifically for the lunar environment.
Blue Origin works closely with Lockheed Martin and other aerospace companies on NASA contracts. These partnerships mix Blue Origin’s propulsion tech with the experience of established space firms.
The company’s orbital rocket, New Glenn, will help with NASA missions and commercial satellite launches. First flights are on the horizon, aiming to deliver NASA payloads and support astronaut transportation.
Blue Origin uses what it learns from New Shepard’s human spaceflight missions to inform future NASA partnerships. Lessons from suborbital flights shape the development of their orbital spacecraft.
Blue Origin handles bookings directly, not through traditional travel sites. Prices can swing a lot, depending on timing and market demand.
They have pretty strict medical clearances and training rules for every passenger.
You can’t just book a Blue Origin flight online or through a travel agent. Their corporate sales team takes care of all reservations.
If you’re interested, you’ll need to fill out an inquiry on their official website. That form asks for your contact info and a few basic screening questions.
If you qualify, a sales rep will reach out to talk about flight options and availability. Flights get scheduled months ahead, since seats are limited.
Payment terms can vary:
The reservation process includes lots of paperwork—liability waivers, insurance forms, the works. Once you’re booked, you’ll get a pre-flight info package.
Flight dates might change because of weather or technical stuff. If that happens, Blue Origin offers alternative options.
Everyone has to pass a thorough medical evaluation before getting the green light. Blue Origin works with aerospace medicine specialists to check passenger fitness.
Some key medical requirements:
Usually, passengers are between 18 and 75 years old. If you’re outside that range, you’ll need extra medical paperwork and company approval.
There are weight and height limits because of the seat design. Blue Origin shares those measurements during your booking chat.
Pre-flight training happens at Blue Origin’s Texas facilities. Passengers get safety briefings, emergency drills, and a closer look at the spacecraft.
Ticket prices go up and down with demand and scheduling. Lately, seats have cost anywhere from $1 million to $2.5 million.
The first commercial flight in 2021 had a seat auctioned off for $28 million. That price was sky-high because it was the very first passenger flight.
What affects pricing:
Sometimes, corporate partners and bulk buyers get discounts. Groups like MoonDAO have landed multiple seats at about $1.25 million each.
Seats are scarce, with only monthly launch windows. Blue Origin puts safety first, so they don’t cram in lots of flights.
You won’t find a public rate card or a booking calendar. Price discussions happen directly with their sales team.
Blue Origin has carried 75 people to space since starting crewed flights. The New Shepard program has chalked up several historic firsts and made space tourism feel almost within reach for regular folks.
Jeff Bezos took the leap himself on Blue Origin’s first crewed flight in July 2021. He brought his brother Mark, trailblazer Wally Funk, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen along.
Since then, Blue Origin has sent 52 civilians into space with New Shepard. The passenger list includes celebrities and public figures who’ve brought a lot of attention to commercial spaceflight.
Katy Perry joined the all-female NS-31 mission in April 2024. Gayle King was on that same groundbreaking flight.
William Shatner became the oldest person in space at 90, flying with Blue Origin. The Star Trek legend’s trip made headlines everywhere.
Michael Strahan also climbed aboard, showing how space tourism has opened up to mainstream media personalities. His flight made suborbital space travel look a lot more accessible.
Passengers come from entertainment, media, and business backgrounds. Most flights carry six people on 10-minute suborbital journeys up to the edge of space.
Blue Origin pulled off the first all-female crew flight since 1963 with NS-31 in April 2024. Six women flew together, which was a big deal for diversity in commercial spaceflight.
William Shatner’s flight set the record for the oldest space traveler. At 90, he proved age doesn’t have to keep you grounded.
As of 2025, Blue Origin has completed 34 New Shepard missions. That steady pace builds confidence in the future of space tourism.
H.E. Justin Sun finally got his chance to fly after winning the first New Shepard seat auction in 2021. His flight on NS-34 included crew from several different countries.
Every mission usually seats six people. That setup lets Blue Origin cater to both solo space tourists and group bookings.
The first paying customer flight really put Blue Origin on the map as a space tourism company. Jeff Bezos showed faith in his own system by riding along.
Blue Origin kicked off the first systematic civilian astronaut program with training protocols for everyone. Passengers go through a quick but thorough prep before launch.
International passengers have climbed aboard, like Gökhan Erdem and other global adventurers. That international draw hints at space tourism’s global potential.
They’ve nailed booster recovery operations, landing rockets safely in the West Texas desert. Reusing rockets helps keep costs within reach for more people.
Corporate leaders and entrepreneurs regularly take Blue Origin flights. The mix includes tech innovators, media stars, and business figures who are helping make commercial spaceflight a reality.
Blue Origin uses its flights as educational tools through Club for the Future, giving $19 million in grants to organizations around the U.S. Their Postcards to Space program has reached thousands of students, and NASA partnerships bring hands-on learning to New Shepard missions.
Blue Origin started Club for the Future in 2019 to inspire students toward STEM fields. After their first crewed flight auction raised $28 million, the foundation gave out $1 million grants to 19 organizations.
Some grant recipients:
They’ve teamed up with Scouting America to create new programs that help young people prepare for space careers. These partnerships set up frameworks for classroom experiments that actually fly on New Shepard.
Blue Origin engineers get involved in outreach, too. Colombian brothers Camilo and Sebastian Tobacia, both engineers at Blue Origin, show how STEM can open doors for underrepresented communities.
With Postcards to Space, students can send their artwork and messages aboard New Shepard. Every postcard comes back with an official space flight stamp after its journey past the Karman line.
Students also design experiments using 3D-printed CubeSat frames and custom processors. These payloads travel in fireproof cabinets, making it easier for schools to get research into microgravity.
NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge sends student-built experiments on Blue Origin flights like NS-35. This gives kids hands-on experience in real space science.
The program brings in STEAM education, blending science and tech with arts and math. That mix helps engage more students and broadens who gets involved in space fields.
Blue Origin’s educational flights show students how space technology works in real life. The National STEM Scholar Program works with them to create custom space-based curriculum for middle schoolers.
DreamUp partnership gives students a shot at space-based research through the Scholar NanoLab program. This partnership schedules student experiments for upcoming New Shepard flights, turning classroom ideas into space missions.
They focus on reaching underrepresented students through special outreach. These efforts help close gaps in STEM access and build a more diverse pipeline for the space industry.
Blue Origin’s approach blends classroom learning with real spaceflight. Students see their projects launch on New Shepard, making space feel a little closer—and maybe inspiring the next generation of explorers.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket has become a go-to ride for scientific experiments that need microgravity conditions and suborbital flight. NASA teams up with Blue Origin to push space technologies forward, and universities jump at the chance to study biology during these short but crucial missions.
NASA grabs payload spots on New Shepard flights through its Flight Opportunities program. They use these suborbital trips to try out new tech before risking it on longer, pricier missions.
On its 35th mission, Blue Origin packed over 40 scientific payloads from different research groups. That single flight pushed New Shepard’s total payload count past 200 since its first launch.
University scientists especially like the suborbital environment. Professor Robert Ferl from the University of Florida actually became the first NASA-funded researcher to fly with his own biological experiments. He wanted to see how biological systems react when they leave Earth and return again.
That short burst of microgravity lets scientists look at things you just can’t study on Earth. They run experiments on everything from fluid behavior to how plants grow in space.
New Shepard’s flight profile gives researchers a taste of different gravitational environments. Payloads go through lunar gravity and then float in total weightlessness during the trip.
Teams use these gravity transitions to check out equipment meant for future Moon missions. The rocket offers a cheaper way to test lunar tech before anyone spends big money on orbital flights.
A single suborbital flight gives you several gravity states to work with. That’s a real advantage for testing robotic systems and scientific tools for lunar exploration.
Blue Origin weaves technology testing right into its New Shepard launches. The reusable rocket itself shows off advanced propulsion and landing tricks that shape the next generation of spacecraft.
Every mission puts navigation, communication, and life support systems through their paces. These upgrades help both commercial space tourism and government programs.
Frequent flights mean space tech can evolve a lot faster. When you can get hardware into space often, you can tweak and improve it much more quickly.
Blue Origin gets plenty of questions about its environmental impact. Each New Shepard passenger accounts for around 34 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The company answers these concerns with reusable rocket tech and ongoing efforts to cut emissions.
New Shepard works as a fully reusable system, which helps cut down on waste and manufacturing pollution. Its propulsive landing system means they don’t need parachutes or ocean retrieval.
Both the booster and crew capsule make it back to Earth in one piece after every flight. The booster lands upright on its BE-3 engine, while the capsule floats down under parachutes for a gentle desert touchdown.
This reusable approach spreads the environmental cost across many flights. Traditional rockets, on the other hand, burn through new hardware every launch, which creates a lot of waste and extra emissions.
Key reusable parts:
The hydrogen-oxygen propulsion system spits out mostly water vapor. This clean-burning fuel produces fewer pollutants than the kerosene fuels you’ll find in other rockets.
Blue Origin takes several steps to lower the carbon footprint of its space tourism flights. Their factories use renewable energy and focus on sustainable production.
At the West Texas launch site, solar power helps cut down on grid electricity. Vehicle prep and crew training facilities use energy-efficient systems to shrink their carbon footprint.
Through Club for the Future, Blue Origin teams up with environmental groups. Together, they work on carbon-neutral space tech and support conservation projects here on Earth.
Current emission reduction efforts:
They also keep flight frequency in check—about once a month—to help limit total annual emissions. That’s less than what you’d see from a busier tourism schedule.
Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic take different approaches to their spacecraft and flight altitudes. They’re both after the same suborbital tourism market, but the passenger experience isn’t identical.
Blue Origin launches the New Shepard rocket straight up, carrying six passengers in a capsule. The rocket goes over 100 kilometers high, crossing the Karman line, which most folks agree marks the start of space.
Virgin Galactic does things differently. They use SpaceShip Two, flown by two pilots and holding four passengers. It launches from a carrier plane and tops out above 80 kilometers.
Passenger capacity:
Blue Origin puts its passengers in comfy seats with huge windows. Virgin Galactic gives you a custom flight suit and requires two days of training at Spaceport America.
Both companies give you a few minutes of weightlessness. But let’s be honest, the ticket price is steep for anyone hoping to call themselves an astronaut.
Richard Branson grabbed the first Virgin Galactic astronaut spot on July 11, beating Jeff Bezos to space by just nine days. That flight really kicked off the public rivalry between the two companies.
Virgin Galactic aimed to start commercial flights in 2022 from Spaceport America. They use a waitlist and offer a personal touch for bookings.
Both companies racked up similar flight numbers before technical hiccups. Blue Origin had a mid-flight failure that paused operations for a bit. When Blue Origin gets back to flying, Virgin Galactic plans to keep pace.
Neither company sends tourists into orbit—suborbital is the name of the game. They’re both after the same group of people: those who want a taste of space, but not a full orbital adventure.
Blue Origin keeps pushing its space tech forward. They want to run regular commercial flights, send up more research payloads, and—maybe one day—make space travel normal for millions. Their New Shepard rocket is at the heart of both tourism and scientific research plans.
Blue Origin plans to get back to regular New Shepard flights after some tech upgrades. The NS-35 mission showed their dedication to science, flying over 40 research payloads.
Current Mission Focus:
They run several New Shepard vehicles from West Texas. Each launch gives more than three minutes of microgravity for experiments.
The latest booster sports improved avionics. These changes fix past issues and pave the way for more frequent flights.
Their special payload capsule, RSS H.G. Wells, lets them fly pure research missions without worrying about passengers.
New Shepard can take up to six passengers at once. Because the whole rocket is reusable, it brings down the cost compared to old-school spacecraft.
Tourism flights hit the Kármán line—about 62 miles up. Passengers get a few minutes of weightlessness and a killer view of Earth’s curve.
Tourism Perks:
They brought back tourism flights after safety checks. Past passengers include Jeff Bezos and a handful of paying customers from all walks of life.
As things stabilize, Blue Origin wants to run tourist flights more regularly. The reusable design means they can fly the same vehicle multiple times, bumping up capacity.
Cutting costs is a big goal if they want more people to afford space trips. Blue Origin finds itself in a race with Virgin Galactic and SpaceX for a slice of the growing space tourism pie.
Blue Origin wants to make space travel routine with better technology. Their motto, “gradual, then sudden,” sums up their slow-and-steady approach.
New Shepard acts as a springboard to bigger projects. Blue Origin uses what it learns here to build its orbital-class New Glenn rocket.
Long-term Goals:
The New Glenn rocket should start flying orbital missions in 2025. It’ll handle satellite launches and possibly crewed trips.
Blue Origin works with NASA on lunar landers. These contracts could put them at the center of future moon missions and deeper space exploration.
Through Club for the Future, they run educational programs that have reached almost 95 million people worldwide.
Their big dream? Millions of people living and working in space. That vision drives everything they do, from tech development to mission planning.
People interested in Blue Origin flights want to know about booking, safety, types of missions, rocket tech, investment chances, and what’s next. These questions show just how much curiosity there is about commercial suborbital flights and Blue Origin’s expanding space tourism business.
Blue Origin hasn’t set up a public booking system for space flights yet. Right now, they run invitation-only flights and special programs instead of selling seats to just anyone.
They sold early seats through auctions. One of those auction spots went for $28 million during the first New Shepard flights. That gave Blue Origin a sense of demand and brought in a serious chunk of cash.
Industry insiders estimate tickets cost between $200,000 and $500,000 per person. Some say you need to put down $150,000 just to reserve a spot, and there are probably more costs beyond that.
Through Club for the Future, Blue Origin offers free New Shepard flights with their Postcards to Space project. It’s one way they’re trying to open up space for people who can’t pay commercial ticket prices.
No one knows when regular ticket sales will start. If you want to book a flight, you’ll have to wait for Blue Origin to open up public reservations.
New Shepard runs as a fully automated spacecraft system. This setup cuts down on human error and means passengers never have to control any flight operations.
The rocket burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as fuel. These propellants are safer than the old-school kerosene-based rocket fuels you’ll find with some other companies.
Blue Origin ran a ton of unmanned test flights before letting anyone ride. The New Shepard system completed many successful flights, which helped the team validate their safety systems and procedures.
The crew capsule was designed with passenger comfort and safety in mind. Those huge windows? They give you a great view while still keeping the capsule strong during the flight.
They built emergency abort systems right into the New Shepard design. If something goes wrong during launch or flight, the crew capsule can break away from the rocket.
Each flight takes up to six passengers inside a roomy cabin. The automated systems handle all the critical flight operations, so passengers just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Blue Origin mainly focuses on suborbital space tourism flights with the New Shepard rocket. These missions take passengers right to the edge of space for about 11 minutes.
The first crewed flight happened on July 20, 2021. Jeff Bezos flew with his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and student Oliver Daemen.
Lately, the flights have included celebrities and public figures. Mission NS-31, for example, had Katy Perry and Gayle King on board as part of an all-female crew.
Blue Origin also runs the Club for the Future educational program. They send postcards and all sorts of educational materials to space on New Shepard flights.
The company wants to do more than just suborbital tourism. They’ve got plans for future missions that might include orbital flights and longer space experiences for passengers.
Test flights happen pretty regularly to keep systems and procedures sharp. These unmanned missions let Blue Origin keep refining their spacecraft and safety protocols.
New Shepard launches and lands vertically. That’s a different approach from Virgin Galactic, which uses a horizontal spaceplane that drops from a carrier aircraft.
Both the booster and crew capsule are fully reusable. Blue Origin designed it this way to cut flight costs over time, unlike expendable rockets that get tossed after each mission.
Automation is a big deal for Blue Origin. Unlike competitors who need a pilot, passengers on New Shepard don’t need any special training to enjoy the ride.
The crew capsule has those massive windows that give you panoramic views of Earth and space. Honestly, they’re some of the largest windows ever flown to space on a crewed vehicle.
They use liquid hydrogen and oxygen for fuel, so the rocket only produces water vapor. It’s a cleaner option than kerosene-based rocket fuels, which is something to appreciate.
New Shepard rockets reach altitudes above 100 kilometers on suborbital flights. Passengers float in weightlessness for several minutes before the capsule returns to Earth.
Blue Origin is still a private company owned by Jeff Bezos. You can’t buy shares on the public stock market, so general investors are out of luck for now.
Some private investment opportunities might exist for big institutional investors. Usually, these deals require a hefty minimum investment and aren’t open to everyday folks.
There aren’t any public plans for an initial public offering. Blue Origin keeps running as a private company, funded mostly by Bezos and a few select investors.
If you want to invest in space tourism, you could look at publicly traded competitors. Virgin Galactic, for instance, is on the stock market and gives investors a way to get exposure to commercial spaceflight.
Since Blue Origin is private, they don’t release financial information. Investors can’t see details about revenue, profit, or how the company operates.
The space tourism industry keeps growing with new private companies popping up. Investors might find opportunities with other publicly traded aerospace and space tech companies.
Blue Origin keeps pushing its New Shepard flight program forward with regular passenger missions. They want to fly more often and carry more people as time goes on.
Engineers at Blue Origin are working on bigger spacecraft for orbital missions. They’re clearly hoping to give SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and other orbital tourism companies some serious competition.
The team at Blue Origin still dreams big—they talk about millions of people living and working in space someday. It’s a vision that goes way beyond just suborbital tourism.
Blue Origin teams up with NASA and works on several government projects. These partnerships bring in funding and help them develop more advanced spacecraft.
They’re also ramping up manufacturing. New facilities and production systems should let them launch New Shepard missions more often.
Programs like Club for the Future keep growing, too. These educational efforts aim to get more people excited about space and support Blue Origin’s goal of making space more accessible.
