Blue Origin Sets Ambitious Course for Weekly Space Tourism Launches
In an exciting development for the commercial space industry, Blue Origin’s senior vice president Phil Joyce has unveiled plans to dramatically scale up the company’s New Shepard suborbital space program. Speaking at the Global Spaceport Alliance’s International Spaceport Forum in Sydney this past weekend, Joyce detailed how Jeff Bezos’ space venture aims to transition from occasional flights to weekly launches, potentially expanding operations beyond U.S. borders to meet surging customer demand. This bold vision represents a significant evolution for the company that has already successfully carried 75 passengers to the edge of space since its first crewed flight in 2021.
The demand for Blue Origin’s suborbital space experiences has exceeded all expectations, with Joyce noting that new sales are coming in “every week, every day.” The company’s flight manifest is reportedly booked solid for more than a year, demonstrating the robust market for private space tourism despite the premium price tag. While Blue Origin hasn’t publicly disclosed current ticket prices, the 2021 auction for a seat on the first crewed mission fetched an astounding $28 million from crypto billionaire Justin Sun, who finally made his journey to space just last month. This extraordinary level of interest from ultra-high-net-worth individuals worldwide is a primary driver behind Blue Origin’s ambitious expansion plans.
To support this increased flight cadence, Blue Origin will begin introducing three next-generation New Shepard vehicles starting in 2026. These advanced spacecraft will be powered by upgraded versions of the company’s hydrogen-fueled BE-3 engine, delivering enhanced performance and reliability. The strategic rollout of these new vehicles will coincide with the planned retirement of the two currently operational rockets by the end of 2027. This fleet modernization represents a critical step in Blue Origin’s journey from pioneering space tourism provider to establishing a high-volume, routine operation that could fundamentally change how we think about access to space for private citizens.
The company’s Launch Site One facility in West Texas has served as the exclusive home for New Shepard operations since test flights began in 2015. After conducting 15 uncrewed missions to validate the system’s safety and performance, Blue Origin made history in July 2021 when Jeff Bezos himself participated in the inaugural passenger flight. Since then, the program has accelerated considerably, with nine missions completed in the past year alone—six of which carried paying customers. However, Joyce acknowledged that the West Texas facility would reach its operational limits if the company transitions to weekly launches as planned, necessitating expansion to a second location to accommodate growing demand.
In evaluating potential locations for this second launch site, Blue Origin is taking a global perspective, considering international options that might better serve their clientele. Joyce specifically mentioned that many of their target customers—ultra-wealthy individuals from around the world—are deterred by lengthy travel times to remote launch facilities. “A lot of our target customer base doesn’t want to spend a day and a half getting to the destination,” he explained, highlighting how geographic convenience could become a competitive advantage in the space tourism market. The company is actively seeking partnership opportunities with entities willing to invest in developing this new spaceport infrastructure, potentially creating an international hub for private space travel.
As Blue Origin advances toward this ambitious weekly launch schedule, the company continues to refine its operations through experience gained from each successive mission. The progression from a cautious test program to a rapidly expanding commercial service demonstrates the maturing space tourism industry. With 75 people already having experienced the company’s brief but transformative journeys to suborbital space—including five repeat customers—Blue Origin has established itself as a leader in this emerging sector. The planned operational expansion represents not just a business opportunity but a significant step toward Jeff Bezos’ long-stated vision of making space accessible to many more people, potentially transforming humanity’s relationship with the final frontier by making spaceflight an increasingly normalized, if still exclusive, experience for private citizens worldwide.
