Blue Origin Halts Suborbital Space Tourism: Discover the Reason

Blue Origin has announced a two-year pause of its New Shepard program, signaling a potential end to its suborbital space tourism efforts. Founded by Jeff Bezos over 25 years ago, Blue Origin has been running this initiative since April 2015. During its operational years, New Shepard completed 38 launches, achieving 36 successful landings and transporting a total of 98 individuals into space.

New Shepard Program Overview

The New Shepard program has also facilitated the launch of over 200 scientific and research payloads into microgravity. Despite its accomplishments, the decision to halt operations was unexpected for many within the company. The most recent flight occurred just eight days ago, successfully carrying six passengers.

Reasons for Program Suspension

Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s CEO, communicated that the company will redirect its resources towards enhancing lunar capabilities, including the New Glenn rocket program. He highlighted this transition as an extraordinary opportunity to support the nation’s goal of establishing a permanent lunar presence.

Future Prospects for Blue Origin

Even though the New Shepard program is on hold, Blue Origin is actively developing four new boosters and constructing two additional capsules. The company had been promoting human flights at a price point of approximately $1 million per seat and discussing the potential expansion to new spaceports.

Financial Viability Concerns

Despite ongoing discussions about the program’s growth, concerns regarding its financial sustainability have persisted. An article from November 2023 raised questions about Bezos’s continued financial support for a program described as “hemorrhaging” money. While sources indicate that New Shepard is closer to breaking even, it still represents a significant cost for Blue Origin.

Impact on Workforce and Long-term Goals

Over 500 employees are currently dedicated to the New Shepard program, which, despite being a small portion of the overall workforce, diverts resources and attention from Blue Origin’s broader ambitions. The company aims to create settlements in space for millions of people, facilitating industrial activities beyond Earth.