Blue Origin Suspends New Shepard Flights to Prioritize Lunar Lander Development

Blue Origin, the private spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos, is suspending the suborbital flights of its New Shepard spacecraft. These flights have carried paying customers to the edge of space and back.

Since its first human launch in July 2021, New Shepard has transported 98 individuals above the Kármán line, approximately 62 miles above Earth, and returned them safely. These missions, from launch to landing in west Texas, typically last about ten minutes.

This pause is anticipated to last a minimum of two years.

The company stated that the suspension will allow Blue Origin to dedicate more time and financial resources to the development of its human lunar landing capabilities.

Shifting Focus to the Moon

This strategic shift comes as Blue Origin plays a significant role in NASA's ambitious plans for lunar exploration.

NASA awarded Blue Origin a $3.4 billion contract to develop a spacecraft designed to transport humans to the lunar surface.

This initiative is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon for the first time in over 50 years.

Artemis Program Context

Under the Artemis program, Elon Musk's SpaceX is developing its Starship rocket for the initial two human landing missions. Blue Origin is slated to provide its vehicle for the third human landing mission.

Before these lunar surface missions can proceed, NASA must successfully complete Artemis II, which involves taking astronauts on a trip around the moon and back. The launch of Artemis II is contingent on a critical test, which recently experienced a delay due to unusually cold temperatures at the Florida launch site.