Blue Origin

Blue Origin (opens in new tab) is a private spaceflight company based in Kent, Washington that is working to send tourists to space on its reusable suborbital rocket called New Shepard (opens in new tab). The company was created in 2000 by Jeff Bezos (opens in new tab), the founder and CEO of Amazon.com. 

In 2015, Blue Origin made history by successfully launching and landing a reusable rocket for the first time (opens in new tab). The company is currently developing a lunar lander called Blue Moon (opens in new tab) that will make robotic cargo deliveries to the lunar surface, and it is partnering with SpaceX (opens in new tab) and Dynetics to develop a human-rated moon lander (opens in new tab) that will carry astronauts to the lunar surface in 2024 under NASA's Artemis Program.

See the latest Blue Origin images, videos and other space news here.

Latest Updates

The crew of Blue Origin's NS-21 suborbital mission enjoys their time in space on June 4, 2022. From left to right: Victor Vescovo, Victor Correa Hespanha, Katya Echazarreta, Hamish Harding, Jaison Robinson and Evan Dick.

To space and back: Blue Origin's NS-21 crew wants to go again (and again)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Less than two hours after they landed from space, the six members of Blue Origin's fifth crewed mission were all sure of at least one thing: one flight into space was not enough.

Photo of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launching the NS-20 space tourist mission in March 2022.

Blue Origin space tourist launches: Live NS-21 mission updates

By Tariq Malik, Meghan Bartels, Robert Z. Pearlman published

Blue Origin will launch 6 passengers on the NS-21 space tourism mission on June 4, 2022. Here are live updates of the launch.

The six members of the NS-21 crew. Left to right: Victor Vescovo, Victor Correa Hespanha, Katya Echazarreta, Jaison Robinson, Hamish Harding and Evan Dick.

Photos: Blue Origin's NS-21 space tourism mission

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin's fifth human spaceflight, a mission called NS-21, launched from the company's West Texas site on June 4, 2022. See photos here.

Blue Origin's NS-21 flight launched on June 4, 2022.

Blue Origin launches 6 people on company's 5th space tourism flight

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin sent six people to suborbital space today (June 4), acing its fifth human spaceflight mission and notching several milestones in the process.

Photo of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launching the NS-20 space tourist mission in March 2022.

Watch Blue Origin launch 6 space tourists on a New Shepard rocket today

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin will launch six more people to the final frontier this morning (June 4), and you can watch the action live.

The NS-21 group of space tourists flying aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft include six individuals. Top row, left to right: Evan Dick, Katya Echazarreta and Hamish Harding. Bottom row, left to right: Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson and Victor Vescovo.

Blue Origin targets June 4 for next space tourist mission after delay

By Mike Wall published

NS-21, the next mission of Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle, is now targeted for Saturday (June 4) — about two weeks later than originally planned.

Blue Origin's suborbital New Shepard vehicle fires up to launch William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries and Audrey Powers to the final frontier on Oct. 13, 2021.

Blue Origin delays next space tourist launch from May 20 due to vehicle issue

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin is no longer targeting Friday (May 20) for the launch of its next space tourist mission after discovering an issue with its New Shepard vehicle. A new launch date has not been announced.

The six people flying on Blue Origin's NS-21 mission. Top row, left to right: Evan Dick, Katya Echazarreta and Hamish Harding. Bottom row, left to right: Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson and Victor Vescovo.

Meet the crew of Blue Origin's NS-21 space tourism launch

By Elizabeth Howell published

The six crewmembers include one person who has flown to space with Blue Origin before.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches a crew of six on Dec. 11, 2021.

Blue Origin's NS-21 space tourism launch: When to watch and what to know

By Elizabeth Howell published

The fifth crewed flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle is scheduled to lift off Saturday (June 4) at 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).

The NS-21 group of space tourists flying aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft include six individuals. Top row, left to right: Evan Dick, Katya Echazarreta and Hamish Harding. Bottom row, left to right: Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson and Victor Vescovo.

Blue Origin targets May 20 for next space tourist launch

By Mike Wall published

Jeff Bezos' aerospace company announced today (May 13) that it's targeting May 20 for the launch of NS-21, the next crewed flight of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle.

The NS-21 group of space tourists flying aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft include six individuals. Top row, left to right: Evan Dick, Katya Echazarreta and Hamish Harding. Bottom row, left to right: Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson and Victor Vescovo.

Blue Origin announces crew for next suborbital space tourism launch

By Elizabeth Howell published

The passengers on Blue Origin's fifth crewed flight, known as NS-21, include the first Mexican-born woman to visit space.

Amazon's fulfillment and web services branches have joined the Orbital Reef commercial space station project led by Blue Origin, Sierra Space and Boeing to build a private outpost in orbit.

Amazon joins Orbital Reef commercial space station project

By Tariq Malik published

Amazon has joined the Orbital Reef commercial space station project led by Blue Origin, Sierra Space and Boeing.

Businessman and professor Jim Kitchen, right, pulls out one of his passports during Blue Origin's NS-20 suborbital spaceflight on March 31, 2022. Kitchen brought 10 passports with him on the trip, as well as a Ukrainian flag and an American flag.

Blue Origin space tourist carries Ukrainian flag to final frontier

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin passenger Jim Kitchen, a professor and entrepreneur, carried a symbol of support and solidarity for Ukraine with him to space on Thursday (March 31).

Liftoff for Blue Origin's NS-20 mission on March 31, 2022.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches 6 people to space in fourth crewed flight

By Mike Wall published

A New Shepard rocket-capsule combo lifted off from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in West Texas on Thursday morning (March 31), carrying six people to suborbital space.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off from the company's West Texas launch site, carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen and 82-year-old Wally Funk, on July 20, 2021.

Watch Blue Origin's fourth crewed flight, the NS-20 space tourist launch, today

By Mike Wall published

Jeff Bezos' spaceflight company Blue Origin will launch six people to the final frontier Thursday morning (March 31), and you can watch the action live.

A Blue Origin launch to space. In 2021, Blue Origin employees came forward with public allegations of harassment at the company.

The space industry has a big, ugly sexual harassment problem

By Chelsea Gohd published

Humanity is making a giant leap back to the moon and to Mars. But one giant obstacle continues to plague the humans making this progress possible: sexual harassment.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off from the company's West Texas launch site, carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen and 82-year-old Wally Funk, on July 20, 2021.

Blue Origin delays next crewed launch to Thursday due to high winds

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin has delayed the fourth crewed launch of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle from Tuesday (March 29) to Thursday (March 31), citing predicted high winds over the next couple of days.

Blue Origin employee Gary Lai and five paying customers will fly on the upcoming NS-20 mission, which is scheduled to launch on March 31.

Meet the 6 spaceflyers on Blue Origin's NS-20 mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

Five paying customers and one of Blue Origin's first 20 employees are scheduled to fly to suborbital space aboard the company's New Shepard vehicle on March 31.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off from the company's West Texas launch site, carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen and 82-year-old Wally Funk, on July 20, 2021.

Blue Origin's NS-20 space tourism launch: When to watch and what to know

By Elizabeth Howell published

Here's everything you need to know about Blue Origin's launch of six people aboard its New Shepard spacecraft on March 31, 2022.

Blue Origin employee Gary Lai, the chief architect of the company's New Shepard vehicle, will replace "Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson on the upcoming NS-20 mission, which is scheduled to launch on March 29. Lai joins five paying customers on the flight.

Pete Davidson's spaceflight replacement is Blue Origin's Gary Lai

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin is going with one of its own as Pete Davidson's spaceflight replacement — Gary Lai, chief architect of New Shepard, the vehicle that will take him to the final frontier on March 31.