If you were waiting for your chance to spend ten minutes suspended in microgravity at the edge of space aboard one of Blue Origin’s tourist vessels, well, you’re just going to have to wait a little longer.
After 38 launches, including a mix of science payloads and 17 crewed flights, Blue announced Friday that it’s taking a step back from space tourism aboard New Shepard.
- Instead, the company will focus on its lunar program.
- Blue is one of the two companies (along with SpaceX) contracted by NASA to build a vehicle to land humans on the lunar surface no earlier than 2028
- The pause will last at least two years.
The announcement came as a surprise to employees at Blue Origin, who found out via an internal company email on Friday.
“We will redirect our people and resources toward further acceleration of our human lunar capabilities inclusive of New Glenn,” Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp wrote in that email, per Ars. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of our nation’s goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence.”
The competition heightens: NASA has been yearning for some real competition between its contractors to get to the Moon faster and cheaper, and this move may be just what it needs. Right now, SpaceX is expected to supply the landing vehicle for Artemis III, but there are doubts that the capsule will be ready in time for the agency’s 2028 deadline. If Blue is at its heels and the agency is open to a switch, that adds serious timeline pressure.
For its part, Blue didn’t say much about where exactly it would be putting new resources toward lunar programs beyond increasing New Glenn flight cadence and doubling down on its lunar commitments to NASA.
Out of office: If you’re looking for a space tourism opportunity, SpaceX still has those $55M tickets to visit the ISS. Group trip?
