Now Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also wants to bring tourists into space. It should start as early as July. His rocket “New Shepard” has never been tested with people on board.
Van Horn (dpa) – The space company of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wants to bring tourists into space for the first time in July. The start is planned for July 20, announced the company Blue Origin.
A seat in the astronaut capsule, which has large panoramic windows and can accommodate six people, is to be auctioned. Online bidding has been possible since Wednesday, and the winner should be determined on June 12th. “This seat will change the way you see the world,” said a company statement.
The company did not initially announce who should take a seat in the other seats and how much that would cost. The roughly ten-minute flight should bring the crew to a height of just over 100 kilometers and then back to earth. Several other companies and space agencies have already launched tourists into space.
Bezos founded Blue Origin around 20 years ago. In mid-April, the company had last tested its “New Shepard” rocket with astronaut capsule. It reached an altitude of around 105 kilometers before returning to Earth. For the first time, employees of the company also rehearsed some astronaut tasks before take-off and after landing. The actual test flight, however, remained unmanned – the “New Shepard” has never flown with people on board.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210506-99-485226 / 2
