Jeff Bezos will be part of travellers launching into space on Blue Origin’s 1st crewed flight
Amazon.com and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos will fly on the very first crewed flight of the New Shepard suborbital motor vehicle, the billionaire announced on Instagram on Monday (June 7).
The flight is scheduled for July 20, the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The New Shepard capsule, which operates autonomously and does not need to have a pilot, will launch from Blue Origin’s West Texas facility. The flight will past around 11 minutes.
Bezos’ brother, Mark, will be part of the crew as effectively, the Instagram put up mentioned. “Ever given that I was 5 decades old, I have dreamed of traveling to house,” Bezos wrote. “On July 20th, I will consider that journey with my brother. The biggest journey, with my ideal pal.”
Connected: Blue Origin’s 1st upgraded New Shepard for astronauts aces start (and landing)
Founder Jeff Bezos has declared he and his brother will be among the the passengers of Blue Origin’s 1st crewed flight. (Image credit: Blue Origin)
Another seat on the flight is currently remaining auctioned off to the maximum bidder during a 3-spherical approach that will conclude on Saturday (June 12). Bids have currently achieved $2.8 million, according to the company the profitable sum will go to the firm’s science and technology outreach foundation, Club for the Upcoming.
The New Shepard car or truck can keep six passengers.
Blue Origin’s most important competitor in suborbital tourism flights, Virgin Galactic, is also making strides toward flying its 1st paying out purchaser. Its vehicle, the piloted VSS Unity place plane, has flown many periods, which includes once with the firm’s main astronaut as a passenger.
Most just lately, Virgin Galactic has marketed tickets at $250,000, and in May perhaps, a enterprise report indicated it was focusing on a commercial flight as soon as following yr.
Blue Origin’s absolutely reusable New Shepard program has flown 15 instances in the course of uncrewed checks. Throughout the most latest flight, in April, corporation staff rehearsed the entrance and exit process, a milestone in advance of upcoming month’s crewed flight.
“It’s an journey,” Bezos stated in a online video posted with the announcement. “It truly is a massive offer for me.”
E-mail Meghan Bartels at mbartels@house.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Observe uson Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Fb.
