People who want to go on a trip to space need to save up because Jeff Bezos' rocket company does not charge cheap.
Bezos is set to charge passengers a staggering amount of $200,000 to $300,000 for its first trips into space in 2019. Many customers and the aerospace industry have been very keen on knowing the cost of a ticket on Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle to find out whether or not it is affordable enough to generate a strong demand on space tourism.
Price Range
Amazon founder Bezos started the Blue Origin in 2000. Together with his executives, they announced their plans for conducting test flights with passengers on the company's New Shepard. Tickets will be available by next year.
In May, the famous tech personality said that the ticket prices have not been decided yet. Blue Origin representatives have also not responded to any queries about its programs and pricing scheme.
However, a Blue Origin employee with first-hand knowledge of the pricing strategy said that the company will be charging passengers in the range of $200,000 to $300,000. Another employee confirmed that the tickets would cost $200,000 minimum. Both workers spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Blue Origin, based 20 miles south of Seattle, has unveiled the general design of the space vehicle, which includes a launch rocket and a detachable passenger pod. However, it has kept the production status and price a secret.
Plans For The New Shepard
The design of New Shepard will enable to fly six passengers more than 62 miles beyond the Earth into suborbital space. This is high enough for the people to experience a few moments of weightlessness.
Additionally, they will be able to see the curvature of the earth at an altitude of 93,573 meters, before the pressurized pod returns to the planet with the help of parachutes.
The capsule will feature six observation windows. Blue Origin reported that it is three times taller than that of a Boeing Co 747 jetliner.
The company has undergone eight test flights of the vertical take-off and landing of the space vehicle from its launch pad located in Texas. Although it did not have any flight passengers yet, two of the flights have included "Mannequin Skywalker," its test dummy.
One employee said that within weeks, Blue Origin will do the first test in space of its pod escape system, which will propel the flight crew to safety if the booster explodes.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
