Blue Origin has announced plans to dramatically increase the launch frequency of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle, aiming for a weekly cadence within the next few years. This significant operational scale-up is driven by strong customer demand and will be supported by a new fleet of upgraded vehicles and the potential development of international spaceports.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Origin intends to increase its New Shepard launch rate to approximately once per week within the next couple of years.
- This expansion is fueled by a backlog of customers that currently extends more than a year.
- Three new, upgraded New Shepard vehicles are scheduled to enter service starting in 2025 to support the increased launch rate.
- The company is actively considering building a new launch site, with a primary focus on international locations to better serve a global customer base.
Surging Demand Drives Expansion Plans
Blue Origin is preparing for a major operational expansion of its suborbital space tourism program. According to Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President for New Shepard, the company is responding to powerful and consistent market interest. This demand has created a waiting list for flights that stretches over a year.
"The demand is really strong," Joyce stated at the Global Spaceport Alliance’s International Spaceport Forum. "We’re continuing to see sales every week, every day."
To meet this growing interest, Blue Origin is transitioning from its current pace of nearly one launch per month to a much more ambitious schedule. The ultimate goal is to achieve a launch frequency of approximately one flight per week. This represents a more than four-fold increase in operational capacity.
Current Operations
Blue Origin has successfully completed seven New Shepard flights in the current year, demonstrating a steady and reliable launch cadence that the company now plans to build upon significantly.
Introducing a New Generation of Vehicles
The plan to increase launch frequency is supported by significant investments in new hardware. Blue Origin is manufacturing three new New Shepard vehicles, which are expected to begin service in 2025. These will join the two vehicles currently used for crewed missions, expanding the operational fleet to five.
However, these new vehicles are not just additional units; they represent a substantial upgrade over the current design. Joyce explained that the existing system, designed years ago, is expensive and requires intensive maintenance.
"We have a system that was designed years ago that is very expensive to operate. It’s very high maintenance," Joyce said. "We have basically upgraded all of the systems."
Key Upgrades for Higher Efficiency
The modernization efforts are focused on making the vehicles easier to manufacture, operate, and reuse, which is critical for achieving a weekly launch cadence. A central part of this upgrade is a new version of the BE-3 engine that powers the rocket.
"We’ve made an investment in the next generation of that engine," Joyce noted, explaining that the new design is "much more manufacturable and operable than the engine we have today."
While Joyce declined to provide specific details, he mentioned that the next-generation New Shepard vehicles will have a noticeably different appearance. The changes, though not described as major, are part of a comprehensive effort to streamline operations from manufacturing to launch and recovery.
Exploring New Launch Sites Globally
A weekly launch schedule would push Blue Origin's current facility, Launch Site One in West Texas, to its maximum operational limit. Consequently, the company is evaluating its infrastructure strategy for the future.
Launch Site One
Located in a remote area of West Texas, Launch Site One has been the exclusive hub for all New Shepard flights. It includes the launch pad, landing pad, vehicle processing facilities, and astronaut training center.
According to Joyce, Blue Origin has analyzed two primary options: expanding the existing Texas site or developing a new spaceport elsewhere. The company is leaning strongly toward the second option.
"We’ve done a number of trades about whether to expand that launch site or to look elsewhere," he said. "We think looking elsewhere makes sense from a number of perspectives."
Focus on International Partnerships
While another U.S.-based location has not been ruled out, Blue Origin's main focus is on establishing an international presence. The company believes offering flights from different parts of the world would provide a significant advantage.
A key consideration is customer convenience. Joyce pointed out that their target market of ultra-high-net-worth individuals often values time and accessibility.
"A lot of our target customer base... don’t want to spend a day and a half getting to the destination, so that’s a consideration," he explained.
To develop a new launch site, Blue Origin is seeking a strategic partner willing to invest in the project. The company is looking for a collaboration that can provide the necessary resources and infrastructure, as well as add to the diversity of its global offerings.
"We’re trying to find a partner that’s willing to invest," Joyce concluded, emphasizing the search for the "best partner that adds to the diversity of it." This global strategy signals Blue Origin's ambition to make suborbital spaceflight a more accessible and routine experience for a worldwide clientele.