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IPFS News Link • Space Travel and Exploration

Blue Origin Could Send Tourists Into Space As Early As 2018

• popsci.com

For the first time, rocket company Blue Origin opened the doors of its headquarters in Washington State to reporters on Tuesday. During the tour, Amazon CEO and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said he hopes to begin launching crewed test flights in 2017.

The secretive Blue Origin has successfully launched its short, squat rocket named New Shepard a handful of times--and the company has even managed to land it softly and re-launch it, becoming the first to reuse a rocket booster--a development which could make space travel much more affordable.

During the press tour, the company didn't reveal much in the way of new information, but said it will allow outsiders to observe an upcoming test flight at its facility in Texas, and that it will provide more details later this year about its larger Vulcan rocket that will eventually launch from Cape Canaveral.