Blue Origin Pauses New Shepard Flights For Two Years

Blue Origin’s New Shepard nfirst crewed flight lifts off on July 20, 2021. Photo: Blue Origin

Blue Origin announced late this afternoon that the company “will pause its New Shepard flights and shift resources to further accelerate development of the company’s human lunar capabilities.” Blue also stated that the program would be shuttered for at least two years.

They added that the “decision reflects Blue Origin’s commitment to the nation’s goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence.”

Specifics of the “resource shift” have not been released publicly at this time. Blue Origin’s lunar efforts are primarily located on Merritt Island and in Kent, Washington, while the bulk of the New Shepard effort is in Van Horn, Texas.

There will be much more to come from this story, stay tuned.

Artist’s rendering of Blue Moon Mk1 on the lunar surface. Credit: Blue Origin

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