Introduction
Blue Origin is one of the most prominent and influential companies leading the modern commercial space race. Founded in 2000 by billionaire Jeff Bezos, the founder and former CEO of Amazon, Blue Origin aims to dramatically lower the cost of access to space through reusable launch vehicles.
Over its 22-year history, Blue Origin has developed multiple innovative spacecraft and rocket systems. It flew the first reusable suborbital rocket booster back to Earth in 2015, paving the way for a new era in affordable, sustainable spaceflight.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore Blue Origin‘s origins, technology, business strategy, accomplishments, future goals, controversies, and more. Whether you are new to Blue Origin or a dedicated space fan, this article will provide key insights into one of the space industry‘s rising stars.
The Early History and Founding of Blue Origin
The seeds for Blue Origin were first planted in Jeff Bezos‘ mind after watching the film October Sky in 1999 about NASA‘s early days. He was inspired by the idea of building reusable spacecraft to dramatically lower launch costs and enable large-scale human access to space.
Bezos quietly founded the company Blue Origin in 2000 and began the long process of assembling an expert team and developing foundational technologies. The start-up‘s name refers to the "blue planet" of Earth where all their spaceships originate from.
For its first several years, Blue Origin operated in secret without even a public website. Bezos patiently committed to a long-term development timeline rather than rushing to market half-baked products. His vision was to develop a suite of reusable launch vehicles for both suborbital and orbital spaceflight.
Between 2003 and 2006, the company purchased large tracts of land in west Texas for launch and test facilities. Blue Origin‘s first major test came in 2011 with a successful short flight of the vertical-takeoff and vertical-landing Goddard demonstrator rocket.
Buoyed by early success and Bezos‘ personal fortune, Blue Origin rapidly expanded its team and began multiple projects in parallel, including the suborbital New Shepard system and a series of engine tests for larger orbital-class rockets.
Major Technology and Inventions
Blue Origin has pioneered reusable rocket technology across both suborbital and orbital vehicle classes. Two systems stand out as the most groundbreaking achievements in the company‘s history thus far.
New Shepard Suborbital Rocket
Named after Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, Blue Origin‘s New Shepard rocket and capsule represents their suborbital space tourism product for brief trips past the 62-mile Karman line into space. It features a reusable rocket booster and crew capsule that returns via parachute after launch.
On November 23, 2015, Blue Origin made spaceflight history when its New Shepard booster performed a successful vertical takeoff and vertical landing back to Earth post-launch – the first ever for a suborbital launch system. This milestone proved the immense cost and engineering advantages of rocket reusability.
The New Shepard system has since carried out multiple test flights with mannequin passengers and recently began flying ticketed space tourists in 2021 on 10+ minute voyages to the edge of space. Expanding access to space tourism is a key element of Blue Origin‘s business model moving forward.
New Glenn Reusable Orbital Rocket
Named after pioneering NASA astronaut John Glenn, Blue Origin‘s in-development New Glenn rocket aims to revolutionize orbital launch capabilities. At 312 feet tall, New Glenn will be powerful enough to deliver 45 tons to low Earth orbit, comparable to SpaceX‘s Falcon Heavy rocket.
New Glenn represents a huge leap in size and power over Blue Origin’s suborbital New Shepard vehicle. Its first stage booster, which provides the main thrust at launch, will be reusable for up to 25 missions. Reusing the first stage booster will substantially lower launch costs for customers.
New Glenn recently reached the critical milestone of having all seven BE-4 rocket engines successfully tested for duration. Blue Origin plans to debut New Glenn in late 2022 for commercial satellite and space payload launches after years of design iterations and delays.
Mastering orbital rockets like New Glenn opens possibilities for space tourism, space stations, Moon/Mars missions, launching satellites, and any other activity requiring access to orbit. It is a major component of Blue Origin‘s strategy for growth.
Business Model and Revenue Sources
As a privately funded company to date, Blue Origin has relied mostly on Jeff Bezos’ own investments rather than outside revenue. However, this is rapidly changing as Blue Origin’s technology comes online.
Space Tourism
In 2021, Blue Origin’s first ever space tourism ticket sold at auction for $28 million for a seat aboard a New Shepard flight. While prices will not remain this astronomical long-term, suborbital tourism is a lucrative initial market with tickets likely stabilizing around $500,000+ per seat.
As Blue Origin scales operations, it has the potential to fly New Shepard missions multiple times per month. Dozens of uber-wealthy individuals have already bought tickets for 2022 and beyond. At similar price points to early airline travel, suborbital space tourism will remain confined to the rich in the short term.
Launch Services
By providing launch services for commercial satellite operators, government agencies, and research institutions, Blue Origin can tap into the hundreds of billions spent on accessing space each year.
New Shepard offers suborbital launch services for microgravity research and technology testing, but most revenue potential lies with New Glenn’s ability to put large payloads into orbit. The global space economy is projected to grow to over $1 trillion by 2040 – with launch services commanding increasing demand.
Moon Missions
Blue Origin was one of the first private companies chosen by NASA to deliver science experiments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface through their Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contracts.
The company’s Blue Moon uncrewed lunar lander, revealed in 2019, will play a key role in establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon in partnership with NASA on the Artemis Program. Revenue from recurring Moon landing services will further support growth.
Future Space Stations
Blue Origin recently announced a partnership with Sierra Space and other major contractors to design the Orbital Reef space station to be operational by 2030. The commercial space station will open new long-duration markets in space including research, manufacturing, and tourism.
Station resupply services and private astronaut missions to Orbital Reef or other stations represent significant new markets beyond Earth orbit and an integral pillar of Blue Origin’s projected revenue mix.
Major Milestones and Achievements
While overshadowed at times by its flashier competitor SpaceX, Blue Origin has steadily notched major technology demonstrations and business partnerships since its early days. Some notable milestones include:
- 2003 – Purchased launch test site in west Texas which would host 13+ years of rocket tests
- 2011 – Flew first vertical-takeoff and vertical-landing rocket called Goddard to 72 meters
- 2012 – Crew capsule escapes rocket explosion in successful pad escape test
- 2015 – Became first company to launch a suborbital rocket booster, land it vertically, and reuse it later that year
- 2016 – Bezos announces yearly $1 billion personal investment into Blue Origin
- 2018 – Won first government contract with Air Force to develop New Glenn rocket
- 2021 – Conducted first human spaceflight with Bezos and three passengers aboard New Shepard
- 2022 – Selected by NASA to develop lunar lander and work on returning humans to the Moon
This list highlights Blue Origin‘s methodical approach to testing and some of its technology firsts in areas like rocket reusability and suborbital space tourism. With the New Glenn rocket nearing completion and the first private crew being flown in 2021, Blue Origin is picking up momentum at a pivotal time.
Future Roadmap and Projects
Never resting on its laurels, Blue Origin has an extensive technology roadmap that includes new large rockets, crewed spacecraft, space stations, lunar landers, and more in various stages of conceptualization or development.
New Armstrong Launch System
Looking to the future beyond New Glenn to even larger rockets, Blue Origin unveiled concept sketches in 2022 of a massive heavy lift vehicle called New Armstrong. Named for the first man on the Moon Neil Armstrong, this rocket would surpass the power of NASA‘s Space Launch System (SLS).
New Armstrong appears optimized for launching massive interplanetary spaceships. With tentative payload capabilities exceeding 80 tons to orbit, it could enable human missions to Mars and establish permanence on the Moon.
Private Space Stations
Blue Origin is a founding member of the Orbital Reef space station consortium alongside Sierra Space and Boeing. Targeting initial launch in 2030, Orbital Reef will be an affordable mixed-use business park in low Earth orbit with capacity for up to 10 occupants. The venture aims to transition humanity to a stage where we "live and work in space."
As the private sector moves firmly beyond tourism into functions like manufacturing, media, and research in orbit, space stations will need to scale up. Blue Origin looks to be positioning themselves as an early mover by cooperating across corporations through efforts like Orbital Reef.
Moon Missions: Blue Moon Lander
A human return to the Moon, especially to stay permanently rather than only visit, will require versatile lunar landers. Blue Origin‘s reusable Blue Moon lander concept is their primary vehicle for participating in NASA‘s Artemis Moon program and establishing a lasting Moon economy.
With capacity for large payloads of scientific instruments, rovers, habitats, and other infrastructure, Blue Moon will help pave the way for recurring services to multiple lunar sites. This includes the Moon‘s south pole where vital water ice deposits can support sustained exploration.
By securing NASA partnerships and cornering early private markets around the Moon, Blue Origin seeks to cement their place in future space value chains beyond low Earth orbit.
Workplace Controversies
Despite its engineering triumphs, Blue Origin has not been without its share of criticism – particularly regarding internal corporate culture.
In a highly public exposé in 2021, over 20 former and current employees accused Blue Origin leadership of turning a blind eye to rampant sexism, harassment, and decision-making that prioritized speed over proper safety reviews. They detailed an environment where senior leaders regularly undermined and ignored female engineers. Others who raised issues said they faced demotions or termination.
The report sparked controversy given Blue Origin‘s prestigious partnerships and cast doubts about transparency. CEO Bob Smith responded with shock and pledged an immediate investigation into the serious claims, which have yet to result in major public changes nearly a year later.
While Blue Origin has revolutionized rocket technology, cultural factors can also determine the long-run success of an organization. The company continues to face scrutiny as it aims to increase launch cadence, operational staffing, and form new major partnerships across the industry in the years ahead.
Comparing Blue Origin to the Competition
Founded in 2002, Blue Origin‘s crosstown rival SpaceX has captured more public attention as the two private rocket companies have pushed technological boundaries at a torrid pace since the 2010s. Virgin Galactic is another player hoping to seize the nascent suborbital space tourism industry. How do they compare?
Blue Origin vs SpaceX
In their spacecraft design and reusability, Blue Origin pioneered early concepts that SpaceX later validated and further innovated for orbital rockets. SpaceX first successfully landed and re-flew an orbital booster in 2017.
Where SpaceX has pulled ahead is the speed of development, flight rate, and providing end-to-end solutions from manufacturing to launch. Backed by lucrative government contracts, SpaceX operates Falcon 9 missions almost weekly while Blue Origin has just begun flying humans on New Shepard after 21 years of work.
However, the two companies are not purely rivals but can also partner where advantageous. SpaceX currently uses Blue Origin‘s BE-4 liquid rocket engines for its in-development Starship system. Healthy cooperation and competition raise the tide for America‘s space industry.
Blue Origin vs Virgin Galactic
Founded by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic possesses a similar value proposition to Blue Origin in flying ultra-wealthy tourists just past the edge of space via rocket and spaceplane. Their designs and flight profiles differ substantially, however.
While nimbler Virgin Galactic beat Blue Origin to first commercial human spaceflight by a matter of days in 2021, their spaceplanes have far less testing data so far. Blue Origin‘s New Shepard rocket may inspire more confidence in the robustness of its systems over time. There appears to be ample demand in the market to support multiple suborbital tourism providers coexisting.
Impact and Legacy
It remains early days for Blue Origin and difficult to project the full impact of a company still proving its operational tempo and business models in many areas. Regardless, Jeff Bezos‘ venture has already left several enduring marks on the commercial space industry.
By solving vertical rocket landing and reuse years before competitors, Blue Origin strengthened the financial case for sustainable, large-scale access to space. Reusability has spread across the industry thanks to their trailblazing.
Their early visions for building an orbital space economy – from space stations to lunar landers – is no longer fantasy but now actively courted by investors and government agencies. Bezos directed passion, influence, and financial resources into the space sector at a time few dared to dream big.
And the billionaire space race that Blue Origin launched in competition with Virgin Galactic undoubtedly inspired masses through stunning visuals and imagination. Multiple competing companies now work to open spaceflight opportunities.
As new legions of scientists and entrepreneurs grow up witnessing today‘s feats, Blue Origin and its peers will have unlocked latent talent and ideas essential for humanity‘s multi-planetary future.
Conclusion
Blue Origin‘s full legacy remains unwritten as they prepare game-changing new rockets and push boundaries on multiple spacefronts in parallel. But the progress and possibilities realized since 2000 when Jeff Bezos incorporporated this audacious startup are profound.
With a methodical testing approach, deliberate long-term planning, and patience required of hard tech ventures, Blue Origin weathered skeptics and lean early years before today‘s blossoming. They overcame a slow start against SpaceX to cement reusable rocketry asintegral for the future.
From flying 64 space travelers and counting with New Shepard to developing new engines for colossal rockets yet to come, Blue Origin‘s contributions must be considered in context rather than just quarter-to-quarter. Their most ambitious milestones still lie ahead.
Straddling the old guard of aerospace with Silicon Valley-esque disruption, Blue Origin remains unique in vision and capabilities. We will continue to track their progress toward technologies like New Glenn that promise to unlock new markets beyond Earth for all.
