History Blue Origin

blue origin s 3 vehicles of late 2012: (1) goddard subscale demonstrator, flight tested in 2006-2007, (2) early, subscale version of suborbital new shepard propulsion module (as flown in 2011; variations exist larger new shepard flew in 2015), (3) future space vehicle (on top of future orbital launch vehicle which, when stacked, blue origin s future orbital transportation system).

blue origin founder jeff bezos had been interested in space age. profile published in 2013 described 1982 miami herald interview bezos gave after named valedictorian of high school class. 18-year-old bezos said wanted

...to build space hotels, amusement parks , colonies 2 million or 3 million people in orbit. whole idea preserve earth told newspaper .... goal able evacuate humans. planet become park.

blue origin founded in 2000 in kent, washington, , began developing both rocket propulsion systems , launch vehicles. since founding, company secretive plans , emerged self-imposed silence after 2015.

while company formally incorporated in 2000, existence became public in 2003, when bezos began buying land in texas, , interested parties followed on purchases. topic of interest in local politics, , bezos rapid aggregation of lots under variety of whimsically named shell companies called land grab .

in january 2005, bezos told editor of van horn advocate blue origin developing sub-orbital space vehicle take off , land vertically , carry 3 or more astronauts edge of space. spacecraft based on technology used mcdonnell douglas dc-x , derivative dc-xa. bezos told reuters in november 2004 company hoped progress orbital spaceflight. of january 2005, company s website announced hoped establish enduring human presence in space , 2007 version wrote instead of aiming patiently , step-by-step, lower cost of spaceflight many people can afford go , humans can better continue exploring solar system . science-fiction author neal stephenson worked part-time @ blue origin late 2006 , credited blue origin employees ideas , discussions leading 2015 novel seveneves.

as of 2006, blue origin had discussed plans place new shepard in commercial suborbital tourist service in 2010 flights once per week. 2008, publicized timetable indicated blue origin intended fly unmanned in 2011, , manned in 2012. in event, first developmental test flight of new shepard occurred on april 29, 2015. uncrewed vehicle flew planned test altitude of more 307,000 feet (93,500 meters) , achieved top speed of mach 3. further test flights have , continue take place. of late 2016, blue origin projected if test flights operate scheduled, begin flying passengers space on new shepard in 2018.

in 2011 interview, bezos indicated founded blue origin send customers space focusing on 2 objectives: decrease cost , increase safety of human spaceflight.

by july 2014, bezos had invested on us$500 million of own money blue origin.

in september 2014, company , united launch alliance (ula) entered partnership whereby blue origin produce large rocket engine—the be-4—for vulcan, successor 10,000–19,000-kilogram-class (22,000–42,000 lb) atlas v has launched national security payloads since 2000s, , exit service in late 2010s. 2014 announcement added blue origin had been working on engine 3 years prior public announcement, , first flight on new rocket occur 2019. april 2017, development , test of 2,400-kilonewton (550,000 lbf) be-4 progressing , blue origin expected selected ula vulcan rocket.

in april 2015, blue origin announced had completed acceptance testing of be-3 engine power new shepard space capsule used blue origin suborbital flights. following new shepard’s maiden flight, blue origin began accepting registration access tickets , pricing information suborbital spaceflights.

in july 2013, company employed approximately 250 people. may 2015, had grown approximately 400 employees, 350 of working on engineering, manufacturing , business operations in kent location , approximately 50 in texas supporting engine-test , suborbital test-flight facility. april 2017, company had more 1000 employees.

in july 2015, nanoracks, provider of services such payload design , development, safety approvals, , integration, announced partnership blue origin provide standardized payload accommodations experiments flying on blue origin’s new shepard suborbital vehicle.

in september 2015, blue origin announced details of unnamed planned orbital launch vehicle, indicating first stage powered be-4 engine under development, while second stage powered completed be-3 rocket engine. in addition, blue origin announced both manufacture , launch new rocket florida space coast. no payload or gross launch weight given. bezos noted in interviews new launch vehicle not compete government national security missions, leaving market united launch alliance , spacex.

on november 23, 2015, blue origin launched new shepard rocket space altitude of 329,839 feet, or 100.5 kilometers, , vertically landed rocket booster less 5 feet (1.5 m) center of pad. capsule descended ground under parachutes 11 minutes after blasting off , landed safely. marks first time booster has flown space , returned earth, marking major step in pursuit of reusable rocket. flight validated vehicle architecture , design. ring fin shifted center of pressure aft control reentry , descent; 8 large drag brakes deployed , reduced vehicle’s terminal speed 387 mph (623 km/h); hydraulically actuated fins steered vehicle through 119 mph (192 km/h) high-altitude crosswinds location precisely aligned , 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above landing pad; highly throttleable be-3 engine re-ignited slow booster landing gear deployed, , vehicle descended last 100 ft (30 m) @ 4.4 mph (7.1 km/h) touchdown on pad. on january 22, 2016, blue origin re-flew same new shepard booster launched , landed vertically in november 2015, demonstrating reuse. time, new shepard reached apogee of 333,582 feet (101.7 kilometers) before both capsule , booster returned earth recovery , reuse. on april 2, 2016, same new shepard booster again flew, third time, reaching 339,178 feet (103.8km), before again returning successfully.

in march 2016, blue origin invited journalists see inside of kent, washington headquarters , manufacturing facility first time. company planning substantial growth in 2016 builds more crew capsules , propulsion modules new shepard program , ramps be-4 engine builds support full-scale development testing. employment expected grow 1,000 in 2016 600 in february. bezos articulated long-term vision humans in space, seeing potential move heavy industry off-earth, leaving our planet zoned strictly residential , light industrial use end state hundreds of years out millions of people living , working in space. march 2016, manned test flights planned take place 2017, possible commercial service in 2018.

also in march 2016, bezos discussed plans offer space tourism services space. pointing out entertainment aspect of barnstormers in advancing aviation in days when such rides big fraction of airplane flights in days, sees space tourism playing similar role: advancing space travel , rocket launches, through tourism , entertainment. on other hand, there no current plans pursue niche market of military launches; bezos has said unsure blue origin add value in market.

on september 12, 2016, blue announced orbital rocket named new glenn in honor of first american astronaut orbit earth, john glenn, , 7-meter-diameter (23 ft) first stage powered 7 blue origin be-4 engines. first stage reusable , land vertically, new shepard suborbital launch vehicle preceded it.

at time of announcement of new glenn, bezos revealed next project beyond new glenn new armstrong, without detailing be.

blue origin has continued expand seattle-area office , rocket production facilities in 2016—purchasing adjacent 11,000-square-metre (120,000 sq ft)-building—and 2017, permits filed build new 21,900 square metres (236,000 sq ft) warehouse complex , additional 9,560 square metres (102,900 sq ft) of office space.

as of 2016, blue origin spending $1 billion usd year, funded jeff bezos sales of amazon stock.

in march 2017, announced blue origin acquired first paying launch customer orbital satellite launches. eutelsat expected start launching tv satellites in around 2022 on blue origin s new glenn orbital launch vehicle.