Blue Origin Halts Space Tourism to Advance Lunar Lander Development

Blue Origin, the private spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos, is suspending its suborbital space tourism flights using the New Shepard spacecraft. This decision comes as the company shifts its focus towards developing a human lunar landing capability. Since its inaugural human launch in July 2021, New Shepard has successfully transported 98 passengers to the edge of space, approximately 62 miles above Earth, and returned them safely to the ground.

The New Shepard missions, which last around ten minutes from launch to landing in West Texas, first took flight with a crew that included Bezos, his brother Mark, aviator Wally Funk, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen. Following this initial voyage, the spacecraft has welcomed a variety of paying customers and celebrities, including William Shatner, Katy Perry, Gayle King, and Michael Strahan.

The pause in space tourism operations will last at least two years, allowing Blue Origin to allocate more resources towards its lunar lander project. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a significant contract worth $3.4 billion to develop a spacecraft capable of carrying humans to the moon’s surface. This initiative is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon for the first time in over 50 years by collaborating with commercial space enterprises to create the necessary technology.

While Blue Origin is set to provide its vehicle for the third lunar landing mission, SpaceX is currently working on its Starship rocket for the initial two crewed landings. Before any of these missions can proceed, NASA must first complete its Artemis II mission. Scheduled for a potential launch on February 8, 2024, Artemis II will take astronauts on a journey around the moon and back. However, current weather conditions, including unusually cold temperatures at the Florida launch site, are delaying crucial tests ahead of this launch attempt.

This strategic pivot highlights Blue Origin’s commitment to expanding its role in lunar exploration while temporarily stepping back from the lucrative space tourism market. As the company refines its lunar capabilities, it positions itself as a key player in future space endeavors, paving the way for advancements that may redefine human presence on the moon.