Blue Origin

2023

Engine explosion during tests

On June 30, 2023, a Blue Origin BE-4 rocket engine created by Amazonfounder Jeff Bezos exploded during tests. The incident occurred at a Blue Origin facility in West Texas.

Reportedly, the explosion thundered about 10 seconds after the start of testing the power unit. This caused the engine to collapse and severe damage to the test bench.

Blue Origin BE-4 rocket engine explodes

It was expected that the destroyed power unit after the completion of testing will be sent to the customer of Blue Origin - United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The engine was planned to be installed on a heavy-class Vulcan Centaur rocket. This carrier is designed to launch up to 27.2 tons of payload into low Earth orbit. Blue Origin confirmed the explosion of the engine.

The company encountered a problem during testing of the Vulcan Flight Engine 3 (BE-4). No staff were injured and we are continuing to investigate the root cause of the incident. We already have plans to fix the problem, "a Blue Origin spokesman said.

Jeff Bezos' company also noted that testing of rocket engines in West Texas will continue. Blue Origin has two test stands built on this site - the second remains operational. Blue Origin also says it will be able to meet obligations to customers to supply rocket propulsion units in 2023. However, CNBC notes that the unsuccessful BE-4 test threatens to further postpone the already postponed first launch of Vulcan Centaur, which has been postponed to the fourth quarter of 2023. It is emphasized that these engines are already certified for flights. Two such units are installed on the first stage of the carrier.^[1]

NASA contract for $3.4 billion to develop lander for getting astronauts to and from the moon

Main article: US Lunar Program

A team led by Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin has won a coveted contract to NASA develop a lander that will take astronauts to Moon and from the surface. The contract with Blue Origin is valued at about 3.4 billion. dollars

Blue Origin is not the only winner. She leads a team that also includes companies, Lockheed Martin,, Astrobotic Boeing Draper and Honeybee Robotics.

The company will build a second system: it should compete with SpaceX, which is developing another module for NASA.

"I am honored to be part of this journey with NASA to land astronauts on the moon - this time to stay," said Amazon founder billionaire Bezos.

2021

Building a space station

On October 25, 2021, Blue Origin and Sierra Space announced the creation of the Orbital Reef space station, which will be built in low Earth orbit on a commercial basis. The station will open the next chapter in human space exploration and exploration, contributing to the development of a dynamic ecosystem and business model of the future, partners say. Read more here.

First passenger flight

On July 20, 2021, the New Shepard spacecraft made its first passenger suborbital flight.

Below is a video shot inside a New Shepard capsule during a suborbital flight.

2018

Blue Origin, the aerospace company that Jeff Bezos founded, invested more than one billion U.S. dollars in aerospace development to begin construction of a New Glenn reusable two-stage, more than 750,000-square-foot rocket engine plant at the Kennedy Space Center. The company also intends to expand the factory to increase the accommodation area of ​ ​ hundreds of employees and attract many tourists.

Amazon chief ready to spend all his money colonising the moon

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos plans to turn the moon into a major center for heavy industry in order to preserve Earth's resources in this way. Bezos told journalist Alan Boyle at the International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Los Angeles, USA^[2].

In order to implement this project, Bezos Blue Origin has offered a public-private partnership to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Bezos is also considering cooperation on the creation of a settlement on the moon with the European Space Agency.

As part of a partnership with NASA, the head of Amazon intends to build a lander with which it will be possible to explore the possibility of organizing production and providing conditions for human life on the moon. The device will be able to deliver 5 tons of payload to the Earth's satellite, this should be enough to carry out some serious work. With proper support, the device may start working by the mid-2020s.

If space agencies do not agree to help, then Blue Origin will deal with the project alone, Bezos said, and things will go even faster than in the partnership. He is ready, if necessary, to independently create all the necessary infrastructure on the moon. "One of two things will happen: either other people will share my vision, or I will run out of money," said the entrepreneur, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at more than $130 billion.

Blue Origin will conduct regular tests of the suborbital ship

On April 29, the American company Blue Origin will conduct the next, eighth test of the New Shepard suborbital ship. This was announced on Twitter by the head of Blue Origin Jeff Bezos.

The company expected to start space tourist flights as early as 2018 if "the test cycle is successfully completed." The previous seven tests passed without comment, reminds TASS.

A New Shepard with a crew of three will be able to carry up to six passengers or a payload. When flying beyond the borders of the stratosphere, passengers will be in zero gravity for about four minutes.

According to experts, the cost of a New Shepard passenger ticket can reach $250 thousand.

2017

Bezos investment - $1 billion annually

The head of the Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, announced in April his intention to invest $2.5 billion in the construction of a launch vehicle capable of delivering satellites and people into orbit. According to Reuters, for this, the businessman plans to annually sell shares of the company in the amount of $1 billion for the sake of investments in his aerospace company Blue Origin.

The businessman is not going to be limited to his companions. At the XXXIII Space Symposium held in Colorado Springs, Jeff Bezos said that next year he plans to organize suborbital passenger flights lasting 11 minutes. "Everyone says when you go into space, it completely changes you. All astronauts, returning, talk about it. It's great to see the Earth, the atmosphere, "- quotes the businessman^[3].

Flights are planned to take place in the New Shepard reusable capsule. The development of the New Glenn launch vehicle began in 2012, in 2016 its future characteristics were first announced: two or three-step, 73 m in height and 7 m in diameter. Its first stage will be equipped with seven BE-4 engines produced by Blue Origin, and, presumably, it will be reusable.

Amazon creator's space company gets first satellite launch contract

The founder's private space company Blue Origin Amazon Jeff Bezos awarded the first commercial satellite launch contract in its history in the spring.

The contract is concluded with the satellite operator Eutelsat, it must be fulfilled within five years. Blue Origin is expected to launch the satellite with its new launch vehicle, New Glenn, which is due to be ready to fly into geostationary orbit in 2020.

Blue Origin has only a New Shepard rocket, the main purpose of which is suborbital tourist flights. Manned launches with its help have never been carried out.

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos noted that he prefers to develop his space projects without haste. "Slow - means smooth, smooth - means fast," he noted at a press conference on the signing of a contract with Eutelsat.

Notes