A Look Back at May 2021
New Shepard reservations attracted attention as the company prepared to carry its first passengers. In May 2021, our original report looked ahead to seat reservations for New Shepard. However, the announcement on 5 May introduced an auction for one place on the first human flight.
The company targeted 20 July 2021 for that mission. In addition, it set out a series of bidding stages leading to a live auction. Read Blue Origin’s original announcement for the historical details.
Blue Origin Ticket Sales and the New Shepard Experience
New Shepard offers a short suborbital journey rather than a stay in orbit. According to Blue Origin’s vehicle overview, the trip lasts about 11 minutes. Passengers travel above the Kármán line, roughly 100 kilometres or 62 miles high.
During the journey, travellers can see Earth through the capsule’s large windows. They also experience several minutes of weightlessness. Afterwards, the capsule returns to the ground beneath parachutes, while the reusable booster lands separately.
Understanding Blue Origin Ticket Sales
Blue Origin ticket sales and an auction are different ways to offer a seat. For example, a fixed-price reservation gives a stated cost, while an auction asks participants to compete through bids. Therefore, the first-seat announcement did not establish a standard fare for every future passenger.
Our original story also discussed RocketBreaks’ hope of becoming a reseller following a successful launch. That was an aspiration at the time. It should not be read as confirmation of a current sales agreement or an available booking.
Explore More Space Tourism Stories
This Blue Origin ticket sales article preserves the context of our May 2021 report. For more developments, browse RocketBreaks space industry news. Alternatively, explore our Earth-based experiences to discover other ways to enjoy space-related activities.