HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Blue Origin announced today it will suspend its New Shepard suborbital spaceflight program for at least two years, redirecting resources to accelerate development of its lunar exploration capabilities.
The decision marks a significant shift in priorities for Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company as it focuses on supporting the nation’s efforts to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a sustained lunar presence.
New Shepard, which became the first reusable rocket system to successfully perform vertical landings, has completed 38 flights and carried 98 passengers beyond the Kármán line — the internationally recognized boundary of space at 100 kilometers (62 miles) altitude. The program has also launched more than 200 scientific and research payloads for students, academic institutions, research organizations, and NASA…