Blue Origin has \u201cpaused\u201d its New Shepard program for the next two years, a move that likely signals a permanent end to the suborbital space tourism initiative.<\/p>\n
The small rocket and capsule have been flying since April 2015 and have combined to make 38 launches, all but one of which were successful, and 36 landings. In its existence, the New Shepard program flew 98 people to space, however briefly, and launched more than 200 scientific and research payloads into the microgravity environment.<\/p>\n
So why is Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos more than a quarter of a century ago, ending the company\u2019s longest-running program?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will redirect our people and resources toward further acceleration of our human lunar capabilities inclusive of New Glenn,\u201d wrote the company\u2019s chief executive, Dave Limp, in an internal email on Friday afternoon. \u201cWe have an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of our nation\u2019s goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Move was a surprise<\/p>\n
The cancellation came, generally, as a surprise to Blue Origin employees. The company flew its most recent mission eight days ago, launching six people into space. Moreover, the company has four new boosters in various stages of development as well as two new capsules under construction. Blue Origin has been selling human flights for more than a year\u00a0 and is still commanding a per-seat price of approximately $1 million based on recent sales. It was talking about expansion to new spaceports<\/a> in September.<\/p>\n