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Blue Origin

Blue Origin 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. The company was created in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, 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. The company is currently developing a lunar lander called Blue Moon that will make robotic cargo deliveries to the lunar surface, and it is partnering with SpaceX and Dynetics to develop a human-rated moon lander 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

A collage shows Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, the company's suborbital New Shepard launch system and actor William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk in "Star Trek."

William Shatner releases new album, may reach space with Blue Origin

By Scott Snowden

Actor William Shatner, known in every corner of the galaxy as Captain James T. Kirk from "Star Trek," has a new album out — and he may be planning a trip to space.

Chris Boshuizen (left) and Glen de Vries (right) are two of the four space tourists scheduled to fly on Blue Origin's second crewed flight on Oct. 12. 2021

Blue Origin sets date for next crewed space trip, names 2 passengers

By Tereza Pultarova

Blue Origin will launch its second crewed suborbital flight on Tuesday, Oct. 12, carrying Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen and Dassault Systèmes healthcare executive Glen de Vries.

SpaceX's all-civilian Inspiration4 astronauts are all smiles after splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean to end their historic three-day trip to orbit on the Crew Dragon Resilience.

Do space tourists really understand the risk they're taking?

By Tereza Pultarova

Space tourism vehicles are probably the only technology with the potential to kill humans that doesn't need to undergo independent safety certification. Is that a good idea?

The space station flight control room at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Texas abortion ban could take an unexpected toll on the space industry

By Chelsea Gohd

Texas' new anti-abortion law could have an unforeseen side effect: upending the space industry.

Jeff Bezos at the Blue Origin launch pad with a New Shepard rocket in the background.

Jeff Bezos congratulates Elon Musk on SpaceX's private Inspiration4 launch

By Tariq Malik

It was congratulations all around the billionaires' table today as Jeff Bezos hailed Elon Musk's SpaceX for the private Inspiration4 launch.

Estes Industries' New Shepard model rocket faithfully reproduces the Blue Origin launch vehicle, including its basic flight profile and the ability to be reused for multiple launches.

You can now launch your own Blue Origin New Shepard (model) rocket

By Robert Z. Pearlman

It's fully reusable and can fly 400 feet (120 meters) high.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket and capsule, the RSS H.G. Wells, launches on the NS-17 suborbital spaceflight from West Texas on Aug. 26, 2021.

Blue Origin launches New Shepard to test moon landing tech and more in suborbital flight

By Mike Wall

New Shepard aced its latest mission this morning (Aug. 26), an uncrewed jaunt that carried a variety of scientific experiments, as well as some pioneering artwork, to and from suborbital space.

A New Shepard launch conducted in December 2019.

Watch Blue Origin launch its New Shepard rocket on an uncrewed suborbital flight today

By Elizabeth Howell

Liftoff is scheduled for 9:35 a.m. EDT (1335 GMT).

An artist's rendition of a future space colony.

The billionaire space race reflects a colonial mindset that fails to imagine a different world

By Ted McCormick

It was a time of political uncertainty, cultural conflict and social change.

Bezos shows the aviation glasses that once belonged to Amelia Earhart, which he took with him during the flight, at the post-flight press conference.

Why Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin gets so much hate

By Chelsea Gohd

These days, it feels as though billionaire-backed space companies are launching off Earth all the time. So why does Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin seem to be in the hot seat?

Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle launches on an uncrewed mission in December 2019. The company's next New Shepard flight is targeted for Aug. 26, 2021.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin targeting Aug. 26 for next spaceflight

By Mike Wall

Blue Origin is targeting Aug. 26 for the next flight of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is now suing NASA over its HLS contract decision.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin sues NASA over denied moon lander contract

By Chelsea Gohd

Blue Origin is now suing NASA in its latest attempt to push back against the agency's decision to award SpaceX its moon lander contract.

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

Space travel for billionaires is the surprise topic with bipartisan American support — but not from Gen Z

By Joseph Cabosky

With Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson both flying to space in craft made by their own private companies, July 2021 was perhaps the highest-profile month for space in years.

NASA picked SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, seen here in an artist's depiction, to land Artemis astronauts on the moon. After protesting NASA's decision to choose just one company for its HLS contract, Blue Origin and Dynetics were denied by GAO to add more contract award winners.

Blue Origin protest of NASA moon lander choice nixed by government agency

By Chelsea Gohd

Blue Origin's protest against NASA's decision to not hire the company to build its next human moon lander has been shut down by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Uplift Aerospace's first "Suborbital Triptych," to be created by artist Amoako Boafo, will be applied to the three parachute cover panels on Blue Origin's New Shepard space capsule.

Artist Amoako Boafo to paint Uplift triptych on Blue Origin rocket exterior

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Art critics have hailed figurative painter Amoako Boafo's "stratospheric rise" among the "upper echelons of the art world." Little did they know, the stratosphere would only be the start.

This Artemis moon lander concept from the Blue Origin-led National Team includes systems by team partners Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper.

Jeff Bezos asks NASA for moon lander contract, offers to cover billions in costs

By Elizabeth Howell

Blue Origin doesn't give up easily.

The passengers of Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight may no longer be eligible to receive the FAA's commercial astronaut wings. From left: physics student Oliver Daemen, Mercury 13 aviator Wally Funk, Amazon and Blue Origin billionaire founder Jeff Bezos, and venture capitalist Mark Bezos (brother of Jeff).

New FAA rules change who qualifies for commercial astronaut wings

By Chelsea Gohd

The Federal Aviation Administration has changed their qualifications for commercial astronaut wings, and Blue Origin's first flight crew might no longer be eligible.

New Shepard successfully lifts off with the first crew on board.

In photos: Blue Origin's 1st New Shepard passenger launch with Jeff Bezos

By Elizabeth Howell

Bezos shows the aviation glasses that once belonged to Amelia Earhart, which he took with him during the flight, at the post-flight press conference.

Jeff Bezos went to the edge of space. Does that make him an astronaut?

By Ben Turner

The billionaire's flight has opened up a debate about what "astronauts' and "space' even are.

Mars, Incorporated has announced Zero-G Skittles, a new limited edition variety of the chewy fruit-flavored candies, in celebration of its recent flight with Jeff Bezos into space.

Skittles is celebrating its flight into space with limited Zero-G candy packs

By Robert Z. Pearlman

"Who wants a Skittle?" With those words delivered from high above Earth, Jeff Bezos inspired a new, limited-edition variety of the colorful treats.