Bezos's Blue Origin sets first human spaceflight for July 20
(Bloomberg) -- Blue Origin, the rocket maker founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has set July 20 for its first mission carrying people to space.
The company plans to auction off one seat on its New Shepard rocket for the 11-minute trip to suborbital space, an altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles). That seat will be the only one available for purchase on the flight, and the proceeds will go to Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, which promotes math and science education.
The plans signal significant progress for Blue Origin as it vies with Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Richard Branson-backed Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. to create a market for tourism rides into space. Bezos hinted on social media after an April 14 test flight that the time for Blue Origin to carry passengers was nearing.
“After the last flight we said it’s time, let’s put people on board,” Ariane Cornell, Blue Origin’s director of astronaut sales, said Wednesday on a video call with reporters.
Read more: https://www.mrt.com/business/article/Bezos-s-Blue-Origin-Sets-Its-First-Human-16161081.php
(Midland Reporter-Telegram)
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