Blue Origin's New Shepard Inaugural Flight: A Unique Auction

Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company, Blue Origin, is presenting a singular opportunity: a seat on the very first flight of its New Shepard suborbital rocket, scheduled for July 20th. However, unlike conventional ticket sales, this seat will be awarded to the highest bidder in an auction.

Auction Details and Timeline

The auction process will unfold in stages. From May 5th to May 19th, participants can submit bids of any amount through a dedicated auction website. Following this initial phase, bids will become public – transitioning to an “unsealed” format – and prospective buyers will need to consistently surpass the leading bid to stay competitive.

The bidding period will culminate on June 12th with a live online auction determining the ultimate winner.

Flight Profile and Duration

According to information released by Blue Origin, the flight itself is anticipated to be relatively brief. The spacecraft is expected to reach its peak altitude, known as apogee, approximately four minutes after liftoff.

The capsule, housing the astronauts and the winning bidder, will touch down around 10 minutes post-launch, in close proximity to the launch facility located in West Texas.

Proceeds to Benefit a Charitable Cause

Blue Origin has announced that the total amount of the winning bid will be donated to its philanthropic organization, the Club for the Future.

Recent Preparations and Testing

In the weeks leading up to the flight, Blue Origin has been diligently conducting simulations of astronaut embarkation and disembarkation procedures. This activity represents the latest step in the company’s ongoing program of spacecraft testing and certification, spanning several years.

Additional Flight Details Revealed

During a media conference on Wednesday, Ariane Cornell, Blue Origin’s director of astronaut sales, shared supplementary information regarding the upcoming flight, though many aspects remain undisclosed.

Crew members will arrive at the West Texas launch site four days prior to launch to participate in a three-day training regimen. The capsule is engineered to prioritize passenger comfort, featuring the largest windows ever incorporated into a spacecraft.

Safety Features and Systems

The capsule will be pressurized, eliminating the need for crew members to wear specialized suits during the journey. A built-in “escape motor” is designed to activate automatically in the event of any detected anomalies, separating the capsule from the booster rocket.

Furthermore, a fire suppression system and oxygen masks are available for manual deployment should an emergency arise.

Confidence in Readiness

“This design approach has instilled confidence within the entire Origin team, allowing us to confidently declare, ‘The time has come to carry people onboard,’ ” Cornell stated.

Future Flight Pricing and Schedule

Cornell refrained from disclosing projected ticket prices for subsequent flights. However, she indicated that Blue Origin intends to conduct several additional crewed missions before the year concludes.

Crew Composition and Bidder Requirements

The identities of the remaining crew members for the inaugural New Shepard flight were not revealed by Cornell. It remains uncertain whether they will consist of Blue Origin personnel or external astronauts.

Regarding the physical prerequisites for the winning bidder, Cornell directed interested parties to the terms and conditions outlined on Blue Origin’s website. These stipulations require the bidder to be capable of ascending seven flights of stairs within 90 seconds, and to fall within the height range of 5’0” to 6’4” and the weight range of 110 to 223 lbs.

“We are prepared for launch,” Cornell affirmed.