In a major strategic shift announced in late January 2026, Jeff Bezos’s aerospace company Blue Origin confirmed it is suspending its suborbital space tourism program for at least two years. The company will ground its New Shepard rocket to redirect engineering talent and financial resources toward developing critical lunar technologies for NASA’s Artemis program, marking a decisive move from commercial spaceflight to deep-space exploration.
From Space Tourism to Lunar Ambitions
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp informed employees that the decision is designed to accelerate work on the Blue Moon lunar lander and the New Glenn orbital rocket. The pivot comes amid growing pressure to compete with SpaceX, whose Starship vehicle is currently NASA’s primary lunar lander. However, Starship delays have prompted NASA to seek reliable alternatives, positioning Blue Origin as a key backup and long-term partner for human lunar missions.
The company framed the move as part of a broader national objective: helping the United States establish a permanent and sustained presence on the Moon while staying ahead of international competitors — particularly China in the next phase of space exploration.
To support this transition, engineers previously assigned to the New Shepard tourism program are being reassigned to the Blue Moon team and the production of BE-7 lunar engines, which are critical to landing systems for Artemis missions.
New Shepard’s Legacy (2015–2026)
Before being grounded, New Shepard was the most recognizable symbol of the billionaire space race. The reusable rocket completed 38 successful missions, carrying 98 passengers beyond the Kármán line the internationally recognized boundary of space.
Notable passengers included Jeff Bezos, William Shatner, Katy Perry (in 2025), and NFL star Michael Strahan. Beyond tourism, New Shepard also launched more than 200 scientific research payloads for NASA and educational institutions, serving as a vital microgravity test platform that will now be on hiatus.
What’s Next for Blue Origin and Artemis?
Blue Origin is currently operating under a $3.4 billion NASA contract and has laid out an ambitious roadmap:
- Blue Moon Mark 1 (late 2026): A robotic cargo lander to deliver rovers and supplies to the lunar surface.
- Artemis V (2029/2030 target): The first crewed lunar landing using Blue Origin’s lander system.
- New Glenn launches (2026): High-cadence orbital flights to support deep-space logistics and lunar infrastructure.
What About Space Tourism Customers?
Blue Origin has yet to clarify plans for its multi-year customer backlog. With Virgin Galactic also undergoing transitions, commercial suborbital space tourism is effectively paused for the public until at least late 2026 or early 2027.
For now, Blue Origin’s future is firmly aimed at the Moon not joyrides above Earth.
