Blue Origin

The company was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.{{Cite news |last=Staff Reporter |date=January 24, 2019 |title=Kent's Blue Origin racks up another successful New Shepard launch into space |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/business/kents-blue-origin-racks-up-another-successful-new-shepard-launch-into-space/ |access-date=October 3, 2020 |website=Kent Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214003933/https://www.kentreporter.com/business/kents-blue-origin-racks-up-another-successful-new-shepard-launch-into-space/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=April 2, 2016 |title=Why Blue Origin's latest launch is a huge deal for cheap space access |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/why-blue-origins-latest-launch-is-a-huge-deal-for-cheap-space-access/ |access-date=October 3, 2020 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108090243/https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/why-blue-origins-latest-launch-is-a-huge-deal-for-cheap-space-access/ |url-status=live }} Rob Meyerson joined the company in 2003 and served as the CEO before leaving the company in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Former Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson leaves Jeff Bezos' space venture |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/veteran-aerospace-engineer-rob-meyerson-leaves-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-space-venture/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301162826/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/veteran-aerospace-engineer-rob-meyerson-leaves-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-space-venture/ |url-status=live }} Bob Smith served as CEO from 2018 to 2023.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/09/bob-smith-is-finally-gone-from-blue-origin-his-replacement-comes-from-amazon/ | title=Jeff Bezos finally got rid of Bob Smith at Blue Origin | date=September 25, 2023 | access-date=December 18, 2023 | archive-date=December 18, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218041208/https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/09/bob-smith-is-finally-gone-from-blue-origin-his-replacement-comes-from-amazon/ | url-status=live }} The current CEO is Dave Limp.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2023/departing-amazon-exec-dave-limp-will-take-over-from-blue-origin-ceo-bob-smith/|title=Departing Amazon exec Dave Limp to become Blue Origin CEO|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=December 18, 2023|archive-date=December 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218041205/https://www.geekwire.com/2023/departing-amazon-exec-dave-limp-will-take-over-from-blue-origin-ceo-bob-smith/|url-status=live}} Little is known about the company's activities in its early years. In 2006, the company purchased land for its New Shepard missions 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas, United States called Launch Site One (LS1). In November 2006, the first test vehicle was launched, the Goddard rocket, which reached an altitude of 285 feet.{{Cite web |last=NSE |date=March 3, 2023 |title=The History of Blue Origin |url=https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/03/03/blue-origin-a-short-history/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=New Space Economy |language=en-US |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521105000/https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/03/03/blue-origin-a-short-history/ |url-status=live }}

After initiating the development of an orbital rocket system prior to 2012, and stating in 2013 on their website that the first stage would perform a powered vertical landing and be reusable, the company publicly announced their orbital launch vehicle intentions in September 2015. In January 2016, the company indicated that the new rocket would be many times larger than New Shepard. The company publicly released the high-level design of the vehicle and announced its name in September 2016 as "New Glenn". The New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle can be configured in both two-stage and three-stage variants. New Glenn first successfully launched in January, 2025.

On July 20, 2021, New Shepard performed its first crewed mission to sub-orbital space called Blue Origin NS-16. The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes and crossed the Kármán line. The passengers were Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen, after the unnamed auction winner (later revealed to have been Justin Sun) dropped out due to a scheduling conflict. Subsequent New Shepard passenger and cargo missions were: Blue Origin NS-17, Blue Origin NS-18, Blue Origin NS-19, Blue Origin NS-20, Blue Origin NS-21 and Blue Origin NS-23.{{Cite web |title=New Shepard Flight History |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/new-shepard_history.htm |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=space.skyrocket.de |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529231410/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/new-shepard_history.htm |url-status=live }}

The company primarily employs an incremental approach from sub-orbital to orbital flight,{{cite news |date=June 3, 2022 |title=Blue Origin NS-21 Mission Nears Launch |publisher=Aero-News Network |url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=853c2364-ee99-4c67-86ef-d9d219416fdf |url-status=live |access-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216054831/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=853c2364-ee99-4c67-86ef-d9d219416fdf |archive-date=December 16, 2022}} with each developmental step building on its prior work. The company moved into the orbital spaceflight technology development business in 2014, initially as a rocket engine supplier via a contractual agreement to build the BE-4 rocket engine, for major US launch system operator United Launch Alliance (ULA). United Launch Alliance (ULA) has said that the first flight of its Vulcan Centaur heavy-lift launch vehicle is scheduled to launch in Q4 of 2023. The heavy-lift launch vehicles main power is supported by two BE-4 engines. On June 7, 2023, United Launch Alliance (ULA) performed a Flight Readiness Firing of the Vulcan Centaur rocket at launch pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States. The two BE-4 rocket engines worked as expected.{{Cite web |title=ULA test-fires first Vulcan rocket at Cape Canaveral – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/06/07/vulcan-centaur-frf-coverage/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703024905/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/06/07/vulcan-centaur-frf-coverage/ |url-status=live }}

In 2024, the company won its first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract. The New Glenn vehicle is to be used on the launches.{{Cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=2024-06-13 |title=Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA win $5.6 billion in Pentagon launch contracts |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-spacex-ula-win-5-6-billion-in-pentagon-launch-contracts/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

File:New Shepard booster at Oshkosh Airventure 2017 02 (36143645465).jpg

File:Blue Origin M7.jpg

{{Main|New Shepard}}

New Shepard is a fully reusable suborbital launch vehicle developed for space tourism. The vehicle is named after Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut in space. The vehicle is capable of vertical takeoff and landings and can carry humans and customer payloads to the edge of space.{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2022 |title=Blue Origin launches six thrill seekers to the edge of space – CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-origin-launches-six-thrill-seekers-to-the-edge-of-space/ |access-date=July 18, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718022203/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-origin-launches-six-thrill-seekers-to-the-edge-of-space/ |url-status=live }}

The New Shepard is a rocket that consists of a booster rocket and a crew capsule. The capsule can be configured to house up to six passengers, cargo, or a combination of both. The booster rocket is powered by one BE-3PM engine, which sends the capsule to an apogee (Sub-Orbital) of {{convert|100.5|km|mi}} and flies above the Kármán line, where passengers and cargo can experience a few minutes of weightlessness before the capsule returns to Earth.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Three minutes of microgravity is worth the cost of a small house, if you're a scientist |url=https://qz.com/1174480/blue-origins-new-shepard-and-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-put-science-in-space-for-three-minutes-and-thats-a-game-changer |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=Quartz |language=en |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629201344/https://qz.com/1174480/blue-origins-new-shepard-and-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-put-science-in-space-for-three-minutes-and-thats-a-game-changer |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=Watch Blue Origin New Shepard-22 Launch! (Full Flight) | date=August 4, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbFXy30hUmA |access-date=July 14, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714153416/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbFXy30hUmA |url-status=live }}

The launch vehicle is designed to be fully reusable, with the capsule returning to Earth via three parachutes and a solid rocket motor. The booster lands vertically on the same launchpad it took off from. The company has successfully launched and landed the New Shepard launch vehicle 26 times with 1 partial failure (deemed successful) and 1 failure. The launch vehicle has a length of {{convert|19.2|m|ft}}, a diameter of {{convert|3.8|m|ft}} and a launch mass of {{convert|75|ST|lb kg}}. The BE-3PM engine produces 490 kN of thrust at takeoff. The New Shepard allows the company to significantly reduce the cost of space tourism.{{Cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Eric M. |last2=Shepardson |first2=David |date=July 12, 2021 |title=U.S. approves Blue Origin license for human space travel ahead of Bezos flight |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-approves-blue-origin-license-human-space-travel-ahead-bezos-flight-2021-07-12/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601165703/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-approves-blue-origin-license-human-space-travel-ahead-bezos-flight-2021-07-12/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Frąckiewicz |first=Marcin |date=March 8, 2023 |title=The Economic Impacts of Blue Origin's Spaceflights |url=https://ts2.space/en/the-economic-impacts-of-blue-origins-spaceflights/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=TS2 SPACE |language=en-US |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717231634/https://ts2.space/en/the-economic-impacts-of-blue-origins-spaceflights/ |url-status=live }}

On the morning of February 25, 2025, Blue Origin launched its 10th space tourism mission and sent six paying passengers to suborbital space. This was the company's tenth human flight, and its 30th overall flight of New Shepard.{{Cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=2025-02-25 |title=Blue Origin launches 'Perfect 10' space tourists on New Shepard rocket|url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/watch-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-10th-space-tourism-flight-today|website=Space.com |language=en}}

{{Main|New Glenn}}

File:New Glenn launch signals new era for Space Launch Complex 36 (8832113).jpg

File:New Glenn.svg

New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle, first successfully launched in January 2025.{{cite web | url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJvDNs7_NZI | title=LIVE: Blue Origin launches New Glenn rocket on first test flight| website=YouTube| access-date=January 16, 2025 }} The initial launch date had been set back by numerous delays. Named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, design work on the vehicle began in early 2012. Illustrations of the vehicle, and the high-level specifications, were initially publicly unveiled in September 2016. The full vehicle was first unveiled on a launch pad on February 21, 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-debuts-new-glenn-on-our-launch-pad | title=Blue Origin Debuts New Glenn on Our Launch Pad | access-date=February 22, 2024 | archive-date=February 22, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222185958/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-debuts-new-glenn-on-our-launch-pad | url-status=live }} The rocket has a diameter of 7 meters (23 ft), and its first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines. The fairing is claimed to have twice the payload volume of "any commercial launch system" and to be the biggest payload fairing in the world.{{Cite web |last=Mooney |first=Justin |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Blue Origin conducts fairing testing amid quiet New Glenn progress |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/blue-origin-new-glenn/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228091937/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/blue-origin-new-glenn/ |url-status=live }}

Like the New Shepard, New Glenn's first stage is also designed to be reusable. In 2021, the company initiated conceptual design work on approaches to potentially make the second stage reusable as well, with the project codenamed "Project Jarvis".{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |title=First images of Blue Origin's "Project Jarvis" test tank |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/08/first-images-of-blue-origins-project-jarvis-test-tank/ |access-date=May 6, 2023 |website=Ars Technica |date=August 24, 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824232002/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/08/first-images-of-blue-origins-project-jarvis-test-tank/ |url-status=live }}

NASA announced on February 9, 2023, that it had selected the New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle for the launch of two Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) spacecraft. The New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle will launch ESCAPADE{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Blue Origin wins first NASA business for New Glenn |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-wins-first-nasa-business-for-new-glenn/ |access-date=April 2, 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717231634/https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-wins-first-nasa-business-for-new-glenn/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=NASA picks Blue Origin's New Glenn to fly a science mission to Mars |url=https://www.engadget.com/nasa-blue-origin-new-glenn-escapade-science-mission-mars-110049165.html |access-date=April 2, 2023 |website=Engadget |date=February 10, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402210653/https://www.engadget.com/nasa-blue-origin-new-glenn-escapade-science-mission-mars-110049165.html |url-status=live }} in Q2 of 2025 with the ESCAPADE spacecraft entering Mars's orbit approximately one year after launch.

In 2024, Blue Origin received funding from the USSF to assess New Glenn's ability to launch national security payloads.{{Cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=January 24, 2024 |title=Blue Origin gets U.S. Space Force funding for New Glenn 'integration studies' |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-gets-u-s-space-force-funding-for-new-glenn-integration-studies/ |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} On January 16, 2025, Blue Origin achieved its first successful launch of New Glenn from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 36 at 02:03 Eastern Time{{cite web | url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=MJvDNs7_NZI | title=LIVE: Blue Origin launches New Glenn rocket on first test flight| website=YouTube| access-date=January 16, 2025 }} The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Blue Ring Pathfinder test satellite, which was successfully placed into orbit.{{Cite web |title=Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin rocket reaches orbit but misses landing in debut |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/news/jeff-bezos-backed-blue-origin-rocket-reaches-orbit-but-misses-landing-in-debut/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=www.businesspost.ie |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Blue Moon (spacecraft)}}

In May 2019, Bezos unveiled plans for a crew-capable lunar lander named Blue Moon.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Jeff Bezos unveils Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander for astronauts |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/09/jeff-bezos-unveils-blue-moon-lunar-lander.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510122842/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/09/jeff-bezos-unveils-blue-moon-lunar-lander.html |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2019 |website=CNBC}} The lander is designed to transport up to {{Convert|3600|kg}} to the lunar surface in its standard configuration, while a stretched-tank variant can carry up to {{Convert|6500|kg}}. Both versions are engineered for soft landings on the Moon.

In 2020, Blue Origin, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper, submitted the Blue Moon lunar lander proposal for NASA's Artemis program. After NASA awarded the human landing system (HLS) contract to SpaceX in 2021 for its Starship HLS, Blue Origin contested the decision. This challenge ultimately led to NASA awarding a separate contract for Blue Moon in 2023.

The lander is powered by the BE-7 hydrolox engine.{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Jeff Bezos unveils 'Blue Moon' lander |work=Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/05/09/blue-origin-announcement/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510041940/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/05/09/blue-origin-announcement/ |archive-date=May 10, 2019}} On May 19, 2023, NASA contracted Blue Origin to develop, test, and deploy the Blue Moon landing system for the Artemis V mission. This mission will support lunar exploration and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars. The $3.4 billion contract includes an uncrewed test mission followed by a crewed Moon landing planned for 2029.{{Cite web |title=NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider |date=May 19, 2023 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-as-second-artemis-lunar-lander-provider |access-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519150415/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-as-second-artemis-lunar-lander-provider/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Bezos' Blue Origin wins NASA astronaut moon lander contract to compete with SpaceX's Starship |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/19/nasa-awards-blue-origin-sld-crew-lunar-lander-contract.html |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519144646/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/19/nasa-awards-blue-origin-sld-crew-lunar-lander-contract.html |url-status=live }}

In mid-2024, Blue Origin announced the successful completion of initial acceptance testing on the thrusters for the MK1 variant of the Blue Moon lander.{{Cite web |title=More and more hardware is arriving – paving our way to the Moon. Our gaseous hydrogen/oxygen reaction control system thrusters have completed acceptance testing ahead of installation on MK1, our first lunar lander. Our RCS thrusters enable different thrust levels for precision attitude control and are an important step toward humanity's sustained presence on the Moon. These will help us land anywhere on the Moon's surface, and best of all, they use propellants that can be manufactured from resources on the lunar surface! |url=https://x.com/blueorigin/status/1788254387934052763}}

Blue Origin's first engine is a "simple, single-propellant engine" called the Blue Engine-1 (BE-1) which uses peroxide propellant and generates {{convert|2000|lbf|kN|disp=flip|abbr=on}} of thrust.

The Blue Engine-2 (BE-2) which is a bipropellant engine using kerosene and peroxide, produces {{convert|31000|lbf|kN|disp=flip|abbr=on}} of thrust.{{cite web |url= https://www.blueorigin.com/technology |title= Blue Origin Technology |publisher= Blue Origin |access-date= October 25, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180110171630/https://www.blueorigin.com/technology |archive-date= January 10, 2018 |url-status= dead }}

{{Main|BE-3}}

The BE-3 is a family of rocket engines made by Blue Origin with two variants, the BE-3U and BE-3PM. The rocket engine is a liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen (LH2/LOX) cryogenic engine that can produce {{convert|110000|lbf|kN||abbr=on|order=flip}} and 710 kN (160,000 lbf) of thrust, respectively. Early thrust chamber testing began at NASA Stennis{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2013 |title=Updates on commercial crew development |work=NewSpace Journal |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/01/17/updates-on-commercial-crew-development/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119091227/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/01/17/updates-on-commercial-crew-development/ |archive-date=January 19, 2013}} in 2013. By late 2013, the BE-3 had been successfully tested on a full-duration sub-orbital burn, with simulated coast phases and engine relights, "demonstrating deep throttle, full power, long-duration and reliable restart all in a single-test sequence."{{Cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=December 3, 2013 |title=Blue Origin Tests New Engine in Simulated Suborbital Mission Profile |work=Parabolic Arc |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/03/blue-origin-tests-engine-simulated-suborbital-mission-profile/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206020133/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/03/blue-origin-tests-engine-simulated-suborbital-mission-profile/ |archive-date=December 6, 2013}} NASA has released a video of the test.{{Cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=December 3, 2013 |title=Video of Blue Origin Engine Test |work=Parabolic Arc |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/03/video-blue-origin-engine-test/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206023638/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/03/video-blue-origin-engine-test/ |archive-date=December 6, 2013}} {{as of|2013|12}}, the engine had demonstrated more than 160 starts and {{convert|9100|s|h}} of operation at the company's test facility near Van Horn, Texas.[http://aviationweek.com/awin/blue-origin-tests-new-engine Blue Origin Tests New Engine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108122553/http://aviationweek.com/awin/blue-origin-tests-new-engine |date=January 8, 2016 }}, Aviation Week, 2013-12-09, accessed September 16, 2014.

1. The BE-3U is an open expander cycle variant of the BE-3. Two of these engines will be used to power the New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle's second stage. The amount of thrust the BE-3U produces is 710 kilonewtons (160,000 lbf).
2. The BE-3PM uses a pump-fed engine design, with a combustion tap-off cycle to take a small amount of combustion gases from the main combustion chamber to power the engine's turbopumps. One engine is used to power the Propulsive Module (PM) of New Shepard. The amount of thrust the BE-3PM produces is 490 kilonewtons (110,000 lbf).{{Cite web |title=Engines |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/engines |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140938/https://www.blueorigin.com/engines |url-status=live }} The rocket engine can be throttled to as low as 110 kN (25,000 lbf) for use in controlled vertical landings.

{{Main|BE-4}}

The BE-4 is a liquid oxygen/liquified natural gas (LOX/LNG) rocket engine that can produce {{convert|550000|lbf|kN|order=flip|abbr=on}} of thrust.{{Cite web |title=BE-4 Reverse Engineered |url=https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45518.0 |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=forum.nasaspaceflight.com |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420192148/https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45518.0 |url-status=live }}

In late 2014, the company signed an agreement with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to develop the BE-4 engine, for ULA's upgraded Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur rockets replacing the RD-180 Russian-made rocket engine. The newly developed heavy-lift launch vehicle will use two of the {{convert|550000|lbf|kN|order=flip|abbr=on}} BE-4 engines on each first stage. The engine development program for the BE-4 began in 2011.{{Cite news |last=Achenbach |first=Joel |date=September 17, 2014 |title=Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin to supply engines for national security space launches |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/jeff-bezos-and-blue-origin-to-supply-engines-for-national-security-space-launches/2014/09/17/59f46eb2-3e7b-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925075923/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/jeff-bezos-and-blue-origin-to-supply-engines-for-national-security-space-launches/2014/09/17/59f46eb2-3e7b-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_story.html |archive-date=September 25, 2014}}

On October 31, 2022, a Twitter post by the official Blue Origin account announced that the first two BE-4 engines had been delivered to ULA and were being integrated on a Vulcan rocket. In a later tweet, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said that one of the engines had already been installed on the booster, and that the other would be joining it momentarily.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Blue Origin completes delivery of BE-4 rocket engines for first ULA Vulcan launch |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2022/blue-origin-delivery-be-4-rocket-engines-ula-vulcan/ |access-date=November 7, 2022 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107165937/https://www.geekwire.com/2022/blue-origin-delivery-be-4-rocket-engines-ula-vulcan/ |url-status=live }} On June 7, 2023, the two BE-4 rocket engines performed as expected when ULA performed a Flight Readiness Firing of the Vulcan Rocket at launch pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.{{Cite web |title=ULA test-fires first Vulcan rocket at Cape Canaveral – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/06/07/vulcan-centaur-frf-coverage/ |access-date=July 3, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703024905/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/06/07/vulcan-centaur-frf-coverage/ |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=Live: Engine test firing for ULA's new Vulcan rocket | date=June 7, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDN8CzkXMqQ |access-date=July 3, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703024904/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDN8CzkXMqQ |url-status=live }}

Vulcan Centaur launched for the first time on January 8, 2024, successfully carrying Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lunar lander, the first mission on NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program using the BE-4 engine.{{cite web |author=Foust |first=Jeff |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Vulcan Centaur launches Peregrine lunar lander on inaugural mission |url=https://spacenews.com/vulcan-centaur-launches-peregrine-lunar-lander-on-inaugural-mission/ |access-date=January 8, 2024 |work=Spacenews |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108153201/https://spacenews.com/vulcan-centaur-launches-peregrine-lunar-lander-on-inaugural-mission/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|BE-7}}

The BE-7 engine is a liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen dual expander cycle engine currently under development, designed for use on Blue Moon.[https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/9/18550258/blue-origin-moon-lunar-lander-jeff-bezos-space Jeff Bezos unveils mock-up of Blue Origin's lunar lander Blue Moon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509215433/https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/9/18550258/blue-origin-moon-lunar-lander-jeff-bezos-space |date=May 9, 2019 }}. Loren Grush, The Verge. May 9, 2019. The engine produces {{convert|10000|lbf|kN|order=flip|abbr=on}} of thrust. Its first ignition tests were performed in June 2019, with thrust chamber assembly testing continuing through 2023.[https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/20/18692707/blue-origin-moon-lander-be7-engine-hot-fire-test-ignition Blue Origin fires up the engine of its future Moon lander for the first time]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509215433/https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/20/18692707/blue-origin-moon-lander-be7-engine-hot-fire-test-ignition|date=May 9, 2019}}. Loren Grush, The Verge. June 20, 2019.

The company partnered with Aerojet Rocketdyne to develop a pusher launch escape system for the New Shepard suborbital crew capsule. Aerojet Rocketdyne provides the Crew Capsule Escape Solid Rocket Motor (CCE SRM) while the thrust vector control system that steers the capsule during an abort is designed and manufactured by Blue Origin.{{Cite web |title=Aerojet Motor Plays Key Role in Successful Blue Origin Pad Escape |url=http://www.rocket.com/article/aerojet-motor-plays-key-role-successful-blue-origin-pad-escape |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514213926/http://www.rocket.com/article/aerojet-motor-plays-key-role-successful-blue-origin-pad-escape |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 14, 2018 |publisher=Aerojet Rocketdyne}}{{Cite web |title=Aerojet Rocketdyne Motor Plays Key Role in Successful Blue Origin In-Flight Crew Escape Test |url=https://www.rocket.com/article/aerojet-rocketdyne-motor-plays-key-role-successful-blue-origin-flight-crew-escape-test |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514213800/https://www.rocket.com/article/aerojet-rocketdyne-motor-plays-key-role-successful-blue-origin-flight-crew-escape-test |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 14, 2018 |publisher=Aerojet Rocketdyne}}

File:NASA Deputy Administrator Tours Blue Origin.jpg{{Main page|Blue Origin facilities}}

The company has facilities across the US which include five main locations and five field offices:{{Cite web|url=https://craft.co/blue-origin/locations|title=Blue Origin Corporate Headquarters, Office Locations and Addresses | Craft.co|access-date=April 4, 2023|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404233743/https://craft.co/blue-origin/locations|url-status=live}}

• Kent, Washington (headquarters)
• Van Horn, Texas
• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
• Huntsville, Alabama
• Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama
• Arlington, Virginia
• Denver, Colorado
• Los Angeles, California
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Washington, DC

The company’s headquarters is in Kent, Washington. Rocket development takes place at its headquarters. The company has continued to expand its Seattle-area offices and rocket production facilities since 2016, purchasing an adjacent {{convert|120000|ft2|m2|order=flip|abbr=on|adj=on}}-building.{{Cite news |last=Stile |first=Marc |date=October 20, 2016 |title=Bezos' rocket company, Blue Origin, is the new owner of an old warehouse in Kent |work=bizjournals.com |publisher=Puget Sound Business Journal |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/10/jeff-bezos-rocket-blue-origin-real-estate-kent.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302004928/http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/10/jeff-bezos-rocket-blue-origin-real-estate-kent.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}} In 2017, the company filed permits to build a new {{convert|236000|ft2|m2|abbr=on|order=flip}} warehouse complex and an additional {{convert|102900|ft2|m2|abbr=on|order=flip}} of office space.{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2017 |title=Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space venture has plans for big expansion of Seattle-area HQ |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2017/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-hq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223033609/http://www.geekwire.com/2017/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-hq/ |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |website=Geekwire.com}} The company established a new headquarters and R&D facility, called the O'Neill Building on June 6, 2020.{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin officially opens its new HQ and R&D center |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/07/blue-origin-officially-opens-its-new-hq-and-rd-center/ |access-date=September 12, 2020 |website=TechCrunch |date=January 7, 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024153109/https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/07/blue-origin-officially-opens-its-new-hq-and-rd-center/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2020 |title=Blue Origin takes one giant leap across the street to space venture's new HQ in Kent |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/blue-origin-takes-one-giant-leap-across-street-new-headquarters-kent/ |access-date=September 12, 2020 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107004658/https://www.geekwire.com/2020/blue-origin-takes-one-giant-leap-across-street-new-headquarters-kent/ |url-status=live }}

File:Blue Origin Launch Site 2024.jpg

Corn Ranch, commonly referred to as Launch Site One (LSO) is the company's launch site {{Convert|30|mi}} north of Van Horn, Texas.{{Cite web |title=A Visit to see Blue Origin's Launch Site One |url=http://scopeviews.co.uk/BlueOriginVisit.htm |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=scopeviews.co.uk |archive-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813202847/http://scopeviews.co.uk/BlueOriginVisit.htm |url-status=live }}

The site hosts the company's sub-orbital launch pad for its New Shepard rocket along with a landing pad. Additionally, LSO has a number of rocket engine test stands and engine test cells are to support the hydrolox, methalox and storable propellant engines. There are three test cells for the BE-3 and BE-4 engines. The test cells support full-thrust and full-duration burns, and one supports short-duration, high-pressure preburner tests.

Engine production is located in Huntsville, Alabama, at a {{Convert|600000|sqft|adj=on}} facility called, "Blue Engine". The companies website states that, "The world-class engine manufacturing facility in The Rocket City conduct[s] high rate production of the BE-4 and BE-3U engines.

The company is planning a third major expansion in Huntsville and the company purchased {{Convert|14.83|acre|4=0}} adjacent to its already sprawling campus at the price of $1.427 million.{{Citation |title=Price, Winford Hugh Protheroe, (born 5 Feb. 1926), City Treasurer, Cardiff City Council, 1975–83 |date=December 1, 2007 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u31450 |work=Who's Who |access-date=June 9, 2023 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u31450 |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717232153/https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-31450;jsessionid=54E1242363290B6FDC263B650210B799 |url-status=live }}

The Orbital Launch Site (OLS) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, develops rockets and conducts extensive testing. The company converted Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) to launch New Glenn into orbit[http://www.space.com/33293-blue-origin-construction-florida-rocket-factory.html Blue Origin's Rocket Factory Breaks Ground, June 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710093314/http://www.space.com/33293-blue-origin-construction-florida-rocket-factory.html |date=July 10, 2016 }}, accessed Feb 2022 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The facility was initially completed in 2020 and is being used for the construction of New Glenn prototypes, rocket testing, and designs.{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Blue Origin is leaving a substantial footprint in Florida |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/tech/science/space/blue-origin-florida/67-47c9de2f-cd89-4912-9718-ef9adcb3248e |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=wtsp.com |language=en-US |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717232144/https://www.wtsp.com/article/tech/science/space/blue-origin-florida/67-47c9de2f-cd89-4912-9718-ef9adcb3248e |url-status=live }}

The company facility is situated on {{Convert|306|acre|4=0}} of land assembled from the former Launch complexes 11, 12, 36A and 36B. The land parcel used to build a rocket engine test stand for the BE-4 engine, a launch mount, called the Orbital Launch Site, (hence its name) and a reusable booster refurbishment facility for the New Glenn launch vehicle, which is expected to land on a drone ship and return to Port Canaveral for refurbishment. Manufacturing of "large elements, such as New Glenn's first and second stages as well as the payload fairings and other large components will be made nearby in Exploration Park, which is near the entrance to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Merritt Island, Florida.{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |date=May 8, 2023 |title=Blue Origin picking up the pace at the Cape |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/05/blue-origin-pace-cape/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601000142/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/05/blue-origin-pace-cape/ |url-status=live }}

In addition to their Florida operations, they have also been leased the greenfield of Space Launch Complex 9 (SLC-9) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, where they plan to construct a New Glenn launch pad to give the launch vehicle polar orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit capabilities.{{Cite web |date=30 November 2023 |title=Staff Report |url=https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2023/12/F8b/F8b-12-2023-report.pdf |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=California Coastal Commission |archive-date=October 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008164303/https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2023/12/F8b/F8b-12-2023-report.pdf |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Blue Ring}}

The Blue Ring vehicle was announced in October 2023 by Blue Origin. It will have its own engine and is meant to handle orbital logistics and delivery. In March 2024, in partnership with the United States Space Force, it was announced that the Blue Ring’s capabilities will be tested soon on a mission called DarkSky-1.{{Cite web |last=Malewar |first=Amit |date=March 27, 2024 |title=Blue Origin to test Blue Ring space truck capabilities on DarkSky-1 Mission |url=https://www.inceptivemind.com/blue-origin-test-blue-ring-space-truck-capabilities-darksky-1-mission/37028/ |access-date=March 28, 2024 |website=Inceptive Mind |language=en-US |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327133449/https://www.inceptivemind.com/blue-origin-test-blue-ring-space-truck-capabilities-darksky-1-mission/37028/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Orbital Reef}}

The company and its partners Sierra Space, Boeing, Redwire Space and Genesis Engineering Solutions won a $130{{nbsp}}million award to jump-start the design of their Orbital Reef commercial space station. The project is envisioned as an expandable business park, with Boeing's Starliner and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser transporting passengers to and from low Earth orbit (LEO) for tourism, research and in-space manufacturing projects.{{Cite web |title=Orbital Reef {{!}} Home |url=https://www.orbitalreef.com/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=www.orbitalreef.com |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026194229/https://www.orbitalreef.com/ |url-status=live }}

Orbital Reef’s design will be modular in nature, to provide the greatest amount of customization and compatibility. It will reportedly be designed to accept docking from almost every spacecraft in operation, such as SpaceX Dragon 2, Soyuz (spacecraft), Dream Chaser, and Boeing Starliner. The initial modules will be: Life, Node, Core, and Research Modules.{{Cite journal |last1=Zea |first1=Luis |last2=Warren |first2=Liz |last3=Ruttley |first3=Tara |last4=Mosher |first4=Todd |last5=Kelsey |first5=Laura |last6=Wagner |first6=Erika |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Orbital Reef and commercial low Earth orbit destinations—upcoming space research opportunities |journal=npj Microgravity |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=43 |doi=10.1038/s41526-024-00363-x |issn=2373-8065|doi-access=free |pmid=38553503 |pmc=10980796 |bibcode=2024npjMG..10...43Z }}

In 2024 NASA increased funding for Orbital Reef by $42 million, bringing the total award to $172 million.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-05 |title=NASA Adjusts Agreements to Benefit Commercial Station Development – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/leo-economy/nasa-adjusts-agreements-to-benefit-commercial-station-development/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418033726/https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/leo-economy/nasa-adjusts-agreements-to-benefit-commercial-station-development/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations}}

NASA plans to test spacecraft, engines and other propellent systems powered by nuclear fission no later than 2027 as part of the agency's effort to demonstrate more efficient methods of traveling through outer space for space exploration.{{Cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=January 25, 2023 |title=U.S. to test nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2027 |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/us-test-nuclear-powered-spacecraft-by-2027-2023-01-24/ |access-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407031151/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/us-test-nuclear-powered-spacecraft-by-2027-2023-01-24/ |url-status=live }} One benefit to using nuclear fission as a propellent for spacecraft is that nuclear-based systems can have less mass than solar cells which means a spacecraft could be smaller while using the same amount of energy more efficiently. Nuclear fission concepts that can power both life support and propulsion systems could greatly reduce the cost and flight time during space exploration.{{Cite web |last=Bardan |first=Roxana |date=January 23, 2023 |title=NASA, DARPA Will Test Nuclear Engine for Future Mars Missions |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-darpa-will-test-nuclear-engine-for-future-mars-missions |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=NASA |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526043355/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-darpa-will-test-nuclear-engine-for-future-mars-missions/ |url-status=live }}

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded General Atomics, Lockheed Martin and Blue Origin contracts to fund and build nuclear spacecraft under the agency's Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations program or DRACO program. The company was awarded $2.9 million to develop spacecraft component designs.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |title=DARPA awards nuclear spacecraft contracts to Lockheed Martin, Bezos' Blue Origin and General Atomics |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/12/darpa-nuclear-spacecraft-lockheed-bezos-blue-origin-general-atomics.html |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=CNBC |date=April 12, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407024948/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/12/darpa-nuclear-spacecraft-lockheed-bezos-blue-origin-general-atomics.html |url-status=live }}

In partnership with Blue Origin, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, GE Research, Framatome and Materion, USNC-Tech won a $5 million contract from NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a long range nuclear propulsion system called the Power Adjusted Demonstration Mars Engine, or PADME.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=January 24, 2023 |title=NASA joins forces with DARPA on effort to demonstrate nuclear rocket for Mars trips |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2023/nasa-darpa-nuclear-rocket-mars/ |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407024948/https://www.geekwire.com/2023/nasa-darpa-nuclear-rocket-mars/ |url-status=live }}

NASA awarded $35 million to the company in 2023 for the company's work on lunar regolith to be used for solar powered systems on the moon. The company's website states that "Blue Alchemist is a proposed end-to-end, scalable, autonomous, and commercial solution that produces solar cells from lunar regolith, which is the dust and crushed rock abundant on the surface of the Moon. Based on a process called molten regolith electrolysis, the breakthrough would bootstrap unlimited electricity and power transmission cables anywhere on the surface of the Moon. This process also produces oxygen as a useful byproduct for propulsion and life support."

Gary Lai, chief architect of the New Shepard rocket said during the pathfinder awards at the Seattle Museum of Flight that [The company] "aims to be the first company that harvests natural resources from the Moon to use here on Earth". He also mentioned that the company is building a novel approach to extract outer space's vast resources.

In 2025, Blue Origin achieved orbital spaceflight with the maiden launch of New Glenn. Below is a list of all Blue Origin flights before 2025. For list of flights performed after 1 January 2025 see the articles of New Glenn and New Shepard where they are listed.

In the chart below, ♺ means "Flight Proven Booster".

The company has contracted to do work for NASA on several development efforts. The company was awarded $3.7 million in funding by NASA in 2009 via a Space Act Agreement{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Space Act Agreement |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/471971main_NNJ10TA02S_blue_origin_SAA_R.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122080728/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/471971main_NNJ10TA02S_blue_origin_SAA_R.pdf |archive-date=November 22, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=Nasa.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Space Act Agreement, Amendment One |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/471970main_NNJ10TA02S_blue_origin_amend_1_r.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122080736/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/471970main_NNJ10TA02S_blue_origin_amend_1_r.pdf |archive-date=November 22, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=NASA}} under the first Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program for development of concepts and technologies to support future human spaceflight operations.{{Cite news |date=February 1, 2010 |title=NASA Selects Commercial Firms to Begin Development of Crew Transportation Concepts and Technology Demonstrations for Human Spaceflight Using Recovery Act Funds |work=press release |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/feb/HQ_C10-004_Commercia_Crew_Dev.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203061828/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/feb/HQ_C10-004_Commercia_Crew_Dev.html |archive-date=February 3, 2010}}{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |title=Blue Origin proposes orbital vehicle |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2010/02/18/blue-origin-proposes-orbital-vehicle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426234819/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2010/02/18/blue-origin-proposes-orbital-vehicle/ |archive-date=April 26, 2015 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=Newspacejournal.com}} NASA co-funded risk-mitigation activities related to ground testing of (1) an innovative 'pusher' escape system, that lowers cost by being reusable and enhances safety by avoiding the jettison event of a traditional 'tractor' Launch Escape System, and (2) an innovative composite pressure vessel cabin that both reduces weight and increases safety of astronauts. This was later revealed to be a part of a larger system, designed for a bionic capsule, that would be launched atop an Atlas V rocket.{{cite web |url=http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/industry/presentations/Lindenmoyer_C3PO.pdf |title=Commercial Crew and Cargo Program |website=www.aiaa.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610062208/http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/industry/presentations/Lindenmoyer_C3PO.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2010}} On November 8, 2010, it was announced that the company had completed all milestones under its CCDev Space Act Agreement.{{Cite web |title=Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) Round One Companies Have Reached Substantial Hardware Milestones in Only 9 Months, New Images and Data Show |url=http://www.commercialspaceflight.org/Other%20Content/High-Resolution%20Version%20-%20CCDev%20Significant%20Hardware%20Milestones%20Reached%20-%20Nov%208%202010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421132450/http://www.commercialspaceflight.org/Other%20Content/High-Resolution%20Version%20-%20CCDev%20Significant%20Hardware%20Milestones%20Reached%20-%20Nov%208%202010.pdf |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=Commercialspaceflight.com }}

In April 2011, The company received a commitment from NASA for $22 million of funding under the CCDev phase 2 program.{{Cite news |last=Morring |first=Frank Jr. |date=April 22, 2011 |title=Five Vehicles Vie To Succeed Space Shuttle |work=Aviation Week |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/awst/2011/04/25/AW_04_25_2011_p24-313867.xml&headline=Five%20Vehicles%20Vie%20To%20Succeed%20Space%20Shuttle |url-status=dead |access-date=February 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221070704/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news%2Fawst%2F2011%2F04%2F25%2FAW_04_25_2011_p24-313867.xml&headline=Five%20Vehicles%20Vie%20To%20Succeed%20Space%20Shuttle |archive-date=December 21, 2011 |quote=the CCDev-2 awards...and went to Blue Origin, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX).}} Milestones included (1) performing a Mission Concept Review (MCR) and System Requirements Review (SRR) on the orbital Space Vehicle, which utilizes a bionic shape to optimize its launch profile and atmospheric reentry, (2) further maturing the pusher escape system, including ground and flight tests, and (3) accelerating development of its BE-3 LOX/LH2 {{Cvt|100,000|lbf|kN|lk=on|order=flip}} engine through full-scale thrust chamber testing.{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin CCDev 2 Space Act Agreement |url=http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/documents/NNK11MS02S_SAA_BlueOrigin_04-18-2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215051509/http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/documents/NNK11MS02S_SAA_BlueOrigin_04-18-2011.pdf |archive-date=February 15, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=Procurement.ksc.nasa.gov}}

In 2012, NASA's Commercial Crew Program released its follow-on CCiCap solicitation for the development of crew delivery to ISS by 2017. The company did not submit a proposal for CCiCap, but reportedly continued work on its development program with private funding.{{Cite web |title=NASA announces $1.1B in support for a trio of spaceships |url=http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/03/13103192-nasa-announces-11-billion-in-support-for-a-trio-of-spaceships?lite |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529211209/http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/03/13103192-nasa-announces-11-billion-in-support-for-a-trio-of-spaceships?lite |archive-date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=Cosmicclog.nbcnews.com}} The company had a failed attempt to lease a different part of the Space Coast, when they submitted a bid in 2013 to lease Launch Complex 39A (LC39A) at the Kennedy Space Center – on land to the north of, and adjacent to, Cape Canaveral AFS – following NASA's decision to lease the unused complex out as part of a bid to reduce annual operation and maintenance costs. The companies bid was for shared and non-exclusive use of the LC39A complex such that the launchpad was to have been able to interface with multiple vehicles, and costs for using the launch pad were to have been shared across multiple companies over the term of the lease. One potential shared user in the companies proposed plan was United Launch Alliance (ULA). Commercial use of the LC39A launch complex was awarded to SpaceX, which submitted a bid for exclusive use of the launch complex to support their crewed missions.{{Cite news |last=Matthews |first=Mark K. |date=August 18, 2013 |title=Musk, Bezos fight to win lease of iconic NASA launchpad |work=Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/08/18/musk-bezos-fight-to-win-lease-of-iconic-nasa-launchpad/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827223013/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-08-18/news/os-fight-over-ksc-launchpad-20130818_1_spacex-elon-musk-christina-ra |archive-date=August 27, 2013}}

The company completed work for NASA on several small development contracts, receiving total funding of $25.7 million by 2013. In September 2013 – before completion of the bid period, and before any public announcement by NASA of the results of the process – Florida Today reported that the company had filed a protest with the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) "over what it says is a plan by NASA to award an exclusive commercial lease to SpaceX for use of mothballed space shuttle launch pad 39A". NASA had originally planned to complete the bid award and have the pad transferred by October 1, 2013, but the protest delayed a decision until the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reached a decision on the protest.{{Cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=September 10, 2013 |title=Blue Origin Files Protest Over Lease on Pad 39A |work=Parabolic Arc |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/09/49934/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925185437/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/09/49934/ |archive-date=September 25, 2013}} SpaceX said that they would be willing to support a multi-user arrangement for pad 39A.{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=September 21, 2013 |title=A minor kerfuffle over LC-39A letters |work=Space Politics |url=http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/09/20/a-minor-kerfuffle-over-lc-39a-letters/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925134552/http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/09/20/a-minor-kerfuffle-over-lc-39a-letters/ |archive-date=September 25, 2013}} In December 2013, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) denied the companies protest and sided with NASA, which argued that the solicitation contained no preference on the use of the facility as either multi-use or single-use. "The [solicitation] document merely [asked] bidders to explain their reasons for selecting one approach instead of the other and how they would manage the facility".{{Cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=December 12, 2013 |title=Blue Origin Loses GAO Appeal Over Pad 39A Bid Process |work=Parabolic Arc |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/12/blue-origin-loses-gao-appeal-pad-39a-bid-process/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216130603/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/12/blue-origin-loses-gao-appeal-pad-39a-bid-process/ |archive-date=December 16, 2013}} NASA selected the SpaceX proposal in late 2013 and signed a 20-year lease contract for Launch Pad 39A to SpaceX in April 2014.{{Cite news |last=Dean |first=James |date=April 15, 2014 |title=With nod to history, SpaceX gets launch pad 39A OK |work=Florida Today |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2014/04/15/nod-history-spacex-gets-ok/7721971/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730193947/http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2014/04/15/nod-history-spacex-gets-ok/7721971/ |archive-date=July 30, 2014}}

The company placed their first bid via the NASA Sustaining Lunar Development (SLD) competition to fund and develop a lunar lander capable of transporting astronauts to and from the lunar surface. The Blue Origin led team called the "National Team" included, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper. On April 30, 2020, the company and its partners won a $579 million contract to start developing and testing an integrated Human Landing System (HLS) for the Artemis program to return humans to the Moon.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=April 30, 2020 |title=NASA awards contracts to Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk to land astronauts on the moon |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/30/nasa-selects-hls-lunar-lander-teams-blue-origin-spacex-dynetics.html |access-date=September 12, 2020 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=April 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430230903/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/30/nasa-selects-hls-lunar-lander-teams-blue-origin-spacex-dynetics.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Christian |first=Davenport |date=April 30, 2020 |title=Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk win contracts for spacecraft to land NASA astronauts on the moon |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/30/jeff-bezos-elon-musk-win-contracts-spacecraft-land-nasa-astronauts-moon/ |access-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910153807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/30/jeff-bezos-elon-musk-win-contracts-spacecraft-land-nasa-astronauts-moon/ |url-status=live }} However, the Blue Origin led team lost their first bid to work for NASA's Artemis program and on April 16, 2021, NASA officially selected the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) to develop, test and build their version of the Human Landing System (HLS) for Artemis missions 2 (II), 3 (III) and 4 (IV).

In early 2021, the company received over $275 million from NASA for lunar lander projects and sub-orbital research flights.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=March 11, 2023 |title=NASA's economic impact report card for Washington state highlights Blue Origin |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2023/nasas-economic-impact-washington-blue-origin/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=GeekWire |language=en-US |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331115338/https://www.geekwire.com/2023/nasas-economic-impact-washington-blue-origin/ |url-status=live }}

The company then announced on December 6, 2022, that it had submitted a second bid via the NASA Sustaining Lunar Development (SLD) competition to fund and develop a second lunar lander capable for transporting astronauts to and from the lunar surface. The announcement fell within NASA's deadline for Sustaining Lunar Development (SLD) proposals. As with their first bid, the company is leading another team called the "National Team" which includes Draper, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Astrobotic, Honeybee Robotics and Blue Origin.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=December 7, 2022 |title=Blue Origin and Dynetics bidding on second Artemis lunar lander |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-and-dynetics-bidding-on-second-artemis-lunar-lander/ |access-date=April 3, 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717232145/https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-and-dynetics-bidding-on-second-artemis-lunar-lander/ |url-status=live }}

On May 19, 2023 NASA contracted the company to develop, test and deploy its Blue Moon landing system for the agency's Artemis V mission, which explores the Moon and prepares future crewed missions to Mars. The project includes an uncrewed test mission followed by a crewed Moon landing in 2029. The contract value is $3.4 billion.

By July 2014, Jeff Bezos had invested over $500{{nbsp}}million into the company.{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=July 18, 2014 |title=Bezos Investment in Blue Origin Exceeds $500M |publisher=Space News |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/41299bezos-investment-in-blue-origin-exceeds-500-million |url-status=dead |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140719021511/http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/41299bezos-investment-in-blue-origin-exceeds-500-million |archive-date=July 19, 2014}} and the vast majority of further funding into 2016 was to support technology development and operations where a majority of funding came from Jeff Bezos' private investment fund. In April 2017, an annual amount was published showing that Jeff Bezos was selling approximately $1{{nbsp}}billion in Amazon stock per year to invest in the company.{{Cite news |last=St. Fleur |first=Nicholas |date=April 5, 2017 |title=Jeff Bezos Says He was Selling $1B a Year in Amazon Stock to Finance Race to Space |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/science/blue-origin-rocket-jeff-bezos-amazon-stock.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407064024/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/science/blue-origin-rocket-jeff-bezos-amazon-stock.html?_r=0 |archive-date=April 7, 2017}} Jeff Bezos has been criticized for spending excessive amounts of his fortune on spaceflight.{{Cite web |title=Rocket fire of the vanities: Bezos space trip brings criticism from Earth-bound philanthropists-The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/20/business/rocket-fire-vanities-bezos-space-trip-brings-criticism-earth-bound-philanthropists/ |website=BostonGlobe.com |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917012405/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/20/business/rocket-fire-vanities-bezos-space-trip-brings-criticism-earth-bound-philanthropists/ |url-status=live }}

The company received $181 million from the United States Air Force for launch vehicle development in 2019. The company was also eligible to benefit from further grants totaling $500M as part of the U.S. Space Force Launch Services Agreement competition.{{Cite news |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=April 8, 2019 |title=Blue Origin urging Air Force to postpone launch competition |work=SpaceNews.com |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-urging-air-force-to-postpone-launch-competition/ |access-date=October 19, 2019 |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717232156/https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-urging-air-force-to-postpone-launch-competition/ |url-status=live }} On November 18, 2022, the U.S. Space Systems Command announced that an agreement with the company that "paves the way" for the company's New Glenn rocket to compete for national security launch contracts once it completes its required flight certifications for Top Secret military payloads.

In an interview with Bob Smith by the financial Times in 2023, Smith said that the company had "hundreds of millions in revenue as well as billions of dollars in orders".{{Cite news |last=Hollinger |first=Peggy |date=July 3, 2023 |title=Blue Origin looks to expand beyond US with international launch site |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/886d8638-8f38-404f-882c-50e358c5509c |access-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703100812/https://www.ft.com/content/886d8638-8f38-404f-882c-50e358c5509c |url-status=live }}

The company is part of the DARPA Lunar Programs, specifically Luna10, an architecture study for lunar surface operations.{{Cite web |title=The Space Review: Architecting lunar infrastructure |url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4796/1 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.thespacereview.com |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527092406/https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4796/1 |url-status=live }}

File:Blue Origin Charon Test Vehicle - Flickr - brewbooks.jpg in Seattle, Washington.]]

The company's first flight test vehicle, called Charon after Pluto's moon,{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=Amazon.com billionaire's 5-ton flying jetpack lands in Seattle museum |url=http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/24/11862569-amazoncom-billionaires-5-ton-flying-jetpack-lands-in-seattle-museum?lite |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203081705/http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/24/11862569-amazoncom-billionaires-5-ton-flying-jetpack-lands-in-seattle-museum?lite |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |website=NBC News}} was powered by four vertically mounted Rolls-Royce Viper Mk. 301 jet engines rather than rockets. The low-altitude vehicle was developed to test autonomous guidance and control technologies, and the processes that the company would use to develop its later rockets. Charon made its only test flight at Moses Lake, Washington on March 5, 2005. It flew to an altitude of {{Cvt|316|ft||order=flip}} before returning for a controlled landing near the liftoff point.{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Charon Test Vehicle |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/charon-test-vehicle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324015036/http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/charon-test-vehicle |archive-date=March 24, 2013 |access-date=March 4, 2013 |publisher=The Museum of Flight}}{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin's Original Charon Flying Vehicle Goes on Display at The Museum of Flight |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/news/blue-origins-original-charon-flying-vehicle-goes-display-museum-flight |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328144750/http://www.museumofflight.org/news/blue-origins-original-charon-flying-vehicle-goes-display-museum-flight |archive-date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=March 4, 2013 |publisher=The Museum of Flight}} As of 2016, Charon is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Charon Test Vehicle |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/charon-test-vehicle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324015036/http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/charon-test-vehicle |archive-date=March 24, 2013 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |publisher=Museum of Flight}}

The next test vehicle, named Goddard (also known as PM1), first flew on November 13, 2006. The flight was successful. A test flight for December 2 never launched.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=November 28, 2006 |title=Blue Origin Rocket Report |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/11/28/16017.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415154004/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/11/28/16017.aspx |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=May 28, 2008 |publisher=MSNBC}}{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=December 2, 2006 |title=Blue Alert For Blastoff |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/02/16849.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507171757/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/02/16849.aspx |archive-date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=May 28, 2008 |publisher=MSNBC}} According to Federal Aviation Administration records, two further flights were performed by Goddard.{{Cite web |title=Launches |url=https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/launches/?type=Permitted |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421174346/https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/launches/?type=Permitted |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |website=www.faa.gov |language=en-us}} Blue Engine 1, or BE-1, was the first rocket engine developed by the company and was used in the company's Goddard development vehicle.

Another early suborbital test vehicle, PM2, had two flight tests in 2011 in west Texas. The vehicle designation may be short for "Propulsion Module".{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin has a bad day (and so do some of the media) |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/09/02/blue-origin-has-a-bad-day-and-so-do-some-of-the-media/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126001453/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/09/02/blue-origin-has-a-bad-day-and-so-do-some-of-the-media/ |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2011}} The first flight was a short hop (low altitude, VTVL takeoff and landing mission) flown on May 6, 2011. The second flight, August 24, 2011, failed when ground personnel lost contact and control of the vehicle. The company released its analysis of the failure nine days later. As the vehicle reached a speed of Mach 1.2 and {{convert|14|km|ft|abbr=on}} altitude, a "flight instability drove an angle of attack that triggered [the] range safety system to terminate thrust on the vehicle". The vehicle was lost.{{cite news |date=September 12, 2011 |title=Blue Origin Acknowledges Test Flight Failure |publisher=Space News |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-acknowledges-test-flight-failure/ |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717232705/https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-acknowledges-test-flight-failure/ |url-status=live }} Blue Engine 2, or BE-2, was a pump-fed bipropellant engine burning kerosene and peroxide which produced {{convert|31000|lbf|kN||abbr=on|order=flip}} of thrust.{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Engines |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/engines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140938/https://www.blueorigin.com/engines |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=May 15, 2018 |publisher=Blue Origin}}{{Cite tweet|number=972501472440213504|user=jeff_foust|title=Rob Meyerson shows this chart of the various engines Blue Origin has developed and the vehicle that have used, or will use, them. #spaceexploration|date=March 10, 2018}} Five BE-2 engines powered the company's PM-2 development vehicle on two test flights in 2011.{{Cite web |last=Krebs |first=Gunter |date=April 29, 2018 |title=New Shepard |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_fam/new-shepard.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516015221/http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_fam/new-shepard.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2018 |access-date=May 15, 2018 |website=Gunter's Space Page}}

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