Blue Origin, founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, is an American aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company. It develops reusable rocket engines, launch vehicles like New Shepard and New Glenn, in-space systems, and lunar landers such as Blue Moon. Blue Origin is also a NASA partner, collaborating on the Artemis program for lunar exploration and working towards a sustainable human presence on the Moon, with partners like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Draper. Key activities include space tourism, satellite deployment capabilities, and advancing technologies to lower space travel costs.
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Blue Origin is one of three teams selected by NASA to design human lunar lander vehicles.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Launch Service Agreements in October 2018 to United Launch Alliance, Northrop Grumman, and Blue Origin.
SpaceX beat competitors Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman in a competition to launch military satellites for the Pentagon from 2022 to 2027.
Blue Origin delivered the first BE-4 test engine to ULA’s factory in Decatur, Alabama.
The October 2018 Launch Service Agreement awards provided Blue Origin $500 million, Northrop Grumman $792 million, and ULA $967,000,000 to be spread out through 2024.
The Air Force will terminate the Launch Service Agreement contracts awarded in October 2018 to Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman.
Blue Origin submitted an offer for NSSL Phase 2 based on New Glenn's heavy-lift performance, more than $2,500,000,000 in private investment, and a competitive single basic launch service price across the entire ordering period.
United Launch Alliance is developing the Vulcan Centaur, a two-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle with a main stage powered by Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine.
Blue Origin is developing a New Glenn rocket, a launch complex at Cape Canaveral, and a large factory for building the New Glenn rocket.
Blue Origin has estimated New Glenn development costs at $2,500,000,000 and has funded the program through founder Jeff Bezos’ personal wealth.
Blue Origin is competing with SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Northrop Grumman for two long-term launch contracts the U.S. Defense Department is expected to award 2020.
SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, and Northrop Grumman were competitors for the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Phase 2 competition with two winners to be selected in summer 2020.
Blue Origin developed the BE-4 engine with some financial support from United Launch Alliance.
Blue Origin delivered a BE-4 rocket engine to United Launch Alliance.
United Launch Alliance selected the BE-4 as Vulcan Centaur’s main engine in September 2018.
Blue Origin plans to deliver a second BE-4 engine in July.
Blue Origin launches the suborbital New Shepard rocket and is preparing to launch the orbital New Glenn rocket in 2021.
SpaceX and Blue Origin are among Phase 2 bidders that will offer reusable launch systems.
In October 2018 the Air Force awarded Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, and Northrop Grumman $2,300,000,000 in Launch Service Agreement development funding to be spread over six years.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard last flew in December 2019 and had a planned April flight postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.