Blue Origin is a private aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company based in Kent, Washington. Started in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, the company aims to enable millions of people to live and work in space. Blue Origin develops technologies to reduce the cost and increase the safety of space travel, with a long-term focus on supporting infrastructure for human presence beyond Earth.
The company's key operations include the development of reusable rocket systems and space vehicles. Its New Shepard suborbital launch system, designed for space tourism and microgravity research, has conducted multiple crewed and uncrewed flights. Blue Origin is also developing the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle, intended to serve commercial and government payload markets. Additionally, the company is involved in developing lunar landing systems through its Blue Moon lander program and has received NASA contracts related to the Artemis program. Blue Origin operates under a vertically integrated model, managing most aspects of manufacturing, testing and launch operations in-house. It has built multiple facilities across the United States, including its headquarters in Washington, a large engine production facility in Huntsville, Alabama, and a launch site near Van Horn, Texas. The company also manufactures its BE-3, BE-4, and BE-7 rocket engines, designed for various commercial and government applications, including partnerships with other launch providers.
Blue Origin competes in the growing commercial space sector alongside companies such as SpaceX, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance. It has secured contracts with NASA and the U.S. Space Force and has partnerships with private satellite operators. The company continues to expand its portfolio of launch systems and space infrastructure projects as part of its broader mission to build a sustainable human future in space.
Amazon to compete with SpaceX by launching 3,236 satellites for global broadband
Amazon announced Tuesday that it has secured up to 83 planned launches over the course of five years for its initiative to construct a low Earth orbit satellite constellation called Project Kuiper.
Blue Origin launches 4th suborbital human flight
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launched its fourth flight Thursday, following several delays.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin expresses interest in NASA's second Artemis lunar lander contract
The Sustaining Lunar Development contract will offer an alternative to SpaceX's Starship, which is aiming to transport the first woman and first person of color to the Moon in 2025 or 2026 as part of NASA's Artemis III mission.
Blue Origin spaceflight: ‘SNL’ star Pete Davidson replaced by New Shepard architect Gary Lai
Lai, who joined the Jeff Bezos-owned aerospace company in 2004 and was among its first 20 employees, is currently responsible for all next generation designs, upgrades and new product development for the New Shepard business.
SNL's Pete Davidson no longer flying with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin
Blue Origin said it would announce Pete Davidson's replacement in the coming days
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin taps SNL's Pete Davidson as next spaceflight passenger
Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson is headed to suborbital space as part of Blue Origin's next human spaceflight this month.
Blue Origin launch: Michael Strahan, 5 others blast off to suborbital space
Blue Origin's third crewed mission blasted off to suborbital space on Saturday morning on board the commercial spaceflight company's New Shepard rocket.
FAA to retire astronaut wings program as commercial space tourism race ramps up
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and actor William Shatner are among the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings program's recipients.
Blue Origin flight: What to know, how to watch
After delaying Thursday's launch due to weather, Blue Origin's third human spaceflight will now lift off from Launch Site One in Van Horn, Texas, on Saturday morning.
Blue Origin taps Michael Strahan, others for next flight
Jeff Bezos' space exploration company, Blue Origin, on Tuesday tapped new crewmembers for its next launch into space aboard the New Shepard, including TV personality and former NFL player Michael Strahan
Bezos' Blue Origin loses NASA lawsuit; win for Musk’s SpaceX
A Federal Court of Claims judge ruled against Blue Origin on Thursday, dismissing the case and the claims of safety concerns.
Tom Hanks shares hilarious reason he turned down space trip invite by Jeff Bezos
Tom Hanks was invited to travel into space by Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos for a price.
Blue Origin plans commercial space station
Blue Origin is teaming up with a host of partners to develop a commercial space station, which it calls a 'mixed use business park,' by the end of the decade.
Nearly half of Americans want space travel but few would pay $100K for it: survey
Apparently, space travel is a popular desire among nearly half of American adults.
William Shatner says space was 'unlike anything I've ever seen'
“What you have given me is the most profound experience,” 90-year-old actor William Shatner told Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos moments after exiting New Shepard's capsule. “I'm so filled with emotion about what just happened. I just I hope I never recover from this.”
William Shatner launches into space on Blue Origin rocket
William Shatner, 90, made history on Wednesday morning aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket as the oldest person to go to space.
Elon Musk offers William Shatner well wishes ahead of Blue Origin spaceflight
Shatner will become the oldest person to be launched into space following Blue Origin's NS-18 mission on Wednesday.
William Shatner, Blue Origin's Audrey Powers round out crew for next spaceflight
Blue Origin is giving Star Trek actor William Shatner a real-life chance to blast into space.
Musk mocks Bezos with No. 2 medal as wealth gap grows
As of the time of publication Monday, Musk reigns supreme with approximately $203.6 billion, while Bezos trails behind with $189.7 billion, according to real-time tracking by Forbes.
Jeff Bezos arrives for Blue Origin suborbital spaceflight
The crew of New Shepard's NS-18 mission includes 90-year-old "Star Trek" veteran William Shatner, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers, former NASA engineer and Planet Labs co-founder Dr. Chris Boshuizen and Medidata co-founder and Dassault Systèmes' vice chair for life sciences and healthcare Glen de Vries.