Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, is planning to expand its spaceflight business beyond the United States, as reported by the Financial Times (FT) on Monday. The company, which was set up by Amazon founder Bezos in 2000, has been sending paying passengers on trips to the edge of space using its suborbital New Shepard rocket since 2021. However, its ambitions go far beyond providing luxury space travel experiences.
According to Bob Smith, Blue Origin’s chief executive, the company is now seeking new partnerships and acquisitions in Europe and elsewhere to build out its launch and engine business and compete with other major players in the industry, such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Smith confirmed that the company is searching for a new launch facility outside of the U.S., although the search is still in its early stages.
In addition to its plans for international expansion, Blue Origin is also gearing up for a number of other major projects. The company has recently signed a $3.4 billion deal with NASA to build a lunar lander for the space agency’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024. Blue Origin is also developing a new, more powerful rocket called New Glenn, which will be used to carry Amazon’s internet satellites to orbit as part of a project similar to SpaceX’s Starlink service. The company expects to take its maiden test flight of New Glenn next year.
Blue Origin’s Expanding Spaceflight Ambitions Take Off Globally
Furthermore, Blue Origin is planning to build a privately funded space station, one of several expected to replace the International Space Station when it is decommissioned in 2031. This new space station will provide a unique opportunity for scientists and researchers to conduct experiments and carry out research in microgravity.
Despite its ambitious plans, Blue Origin is also dealing with recent setbacks. In September, its New Shepard rocket suffered a failure during a flight, although the crew capsule was empty and ejected from the rocket as designed, making a safe return to Earth. Engineers at the company are investigating the cause of the failure and are hoping to launch an unmanned test flight in the coming weeks. If this passes without any issues, New Shepard could begin carrying passengers again a month or two later, Smith confirmed.
Blue Origin’s plans for expansion and growth demonstrate its commitment to becoming a major player in the global space industry. With its sights set on international partnerships, new launch facilities, and ambitious projects like lunar landers and privately funded space stations, the company is poised for significant growth and innovation in the years to come. As Jeff Bezos’ rocket company looks to the future, it is clear that Blue Origin will be a major force to be reckoned with in space exploration and commercial spaceflight.
