Blue Origin, a space exploration company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, launched its 14th sub-orbital flight of a New Shepard spacecraft Thursday, using its reusable rocket to boost an unmanned crew capsule to the edge of space This mission was to test accommodations, cockpit displays and other systems for upcoming crewed flights. Its hydrogen-fueled BE-3 rocket engine ignited with a burst of flame at 12:17 p.m. EST from Launch Site One at Blue Origin’s west Texas flight test facility. Read more for the launch video and additional information.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced yesterday three private companies that will develop, build and fly lunar landers, with the goal of returning astronauts to the moon in 2024 and eventually, Mars. They are: SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, led by Elon Musk; Blue Origin in Kent, Washington, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos; and Dynetics, a Huntsville, Alabama subsidiary of Leidos. The contracts for the initial 10-month period total $967 million. Read more for two videos and additional information.