History of Blue Origin in Timeline
Blue Origin, an American privately-funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company headquartered in Kent, Washington, was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos. The company's name refers to the Earth as the "blue origin" of humanity. Blue Origin's main goals include enabling private human access to space with an emphasis on safety and dramatically lower costs. It aims to develop technologies that can be used to colonize the solar system beginning with the moon and using in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) along the way. The company is developing a variety of reusable vehicles, including the New Shepard suborbital rocket and the New Glenn heavy-lift orbital rocket, powered by engines designed and manufactured in-house, such as the BE-3 methane–liquid oxygen engine and the BE-4 methane-LOX engine. Blue Origin's business model is based on vertical integration, in which it produces all aspects of the vehicles and their components rather than relying on outsourcing. Initially focused on suborbital spaceflight, the company expanded its operations in 2014 to include the development and manufacture of orbital rocket engines.
2000: Company Founding
Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000.
2000: Company Founding
Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos with a focus on space exploration.
2003: Rob Meyerson Joins
Rob Meyerson joined Blue Origin in 2003, playing a crucial role in the company's early development.
March 5, 2005: Blue Origin's First Test Vehicle "Charon" Makes its Only Flight
On March 5, 2005, Blue Origin's first test vehicle, Charon, completed its only test flight, reaching an altitude of 96 meters.
November 13, 2006: Goddard Test Vehicle Completes Successful Flight
On November 13, 2006, Blue Origin's Goddard (PM1) test vehicle successfully completed a flight test.
November 2006: First Test Vehicle Launch
In November 2006, Blue Origin launched its first test vehicle, Goddard, which reached an altitude of 285 feet.
2009: NASA Funding for Human Spaceflight Development
In 2009, Blue Origin secured $3.7 million in funding from NASA under the CCDev program. This funding supported the development of concepts and technologies for future human spaceflight operations, including a pusher escape system and a composite pressure vessel cabin.
November 8, 2010: Completion of CCDev Space Act Agreement Milestones
On November 8, 2010, Blue Origin announced the successful completion of all milestones outlined in its Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) Space Act Agreement with NASA.
April 2011: CCDev Phase 2 Funding from NASA
In April 2011, Blue Origin received $22 million in funding from NASA as part of the CCDev phase 2 program. This funding focused on the development of an orbital space vehicle, a pusher escape system, and the BE-3 engine.
May 6, 2011: PM2 Test Vehicle Completes Short Hop Mission
On May 6, 2011, Blue Origin's PM2 test vehicle performed a successful short hop mission, a low-altitude vertical takeoff and landing test.
August 24, 2011: PM2 Test Vehicle Lost During Flight Test
On August 24, 2011, Blue Origin's PM2 test vehicle was lost due to a flight instability that triggered the range safety system during a test flight.
2011: BE-4 Engine Development Program Begins
Blue Origin initiated the development program for the BE-4 rocket engine in 2011. This marked a significant step in the company's progress toward building a new generation of high-performance rocket engines.
2012: Start of New Glenn Design
Blue Origin began design work on the New Glenn launch vehicle around 2012.
2012: No Proposal for CCiCap
Blue Origin did not submit a proposal for NASA's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) program in 2012, but continued its development work with private funding.
2012: New Glenn Design Begins
The design work for New Glenn started in early 2012.
September 2013: Blue Origin Protests NASA's Plan to Lease Launch Pad 39A to SpaceX
In September 2013, Blue Origin filed a protest with the U.S. General Accounting Office against NASA's plan to exclusively lease Launch Pad 39A to SpaceX.
October 1, 2013: NASA's Planned Lease of Launch Pad 39A to SpaceX Delayed
On October 1, 2013, NASA's plan to lease Launch Pad 39A to SpaceX was delayed due to a protest filed by Blue Origin with the U.S. General Accounting Office.
December 2013: GAO Denies Blue Origin's Protest Against SpaceX Lease
In December 2013, the U.S. General Accounting Office denied Blue Origin's protest and sided with NASA, allowing SpaceX to lease Launch Pad 39A.
December 2013: BE-3 Engine Testing
In December 2013, Blue Origin's BE-3 rocket engine, designed for liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen propulsion, underwent extensive testing, accumulating over 160 starts and 2.5 hours of operation. The tests, conducted at their Texas facility, included simulations of sub-orbital burns, coast phases, and engine relights, demonstrating the engine's throttling capabilities, power, duration, and restart reliability.
2013: Reusable First Stage Concept
In 2013, Blue Origin's website indicated plans for a reusable first stage for its future orbital launch vehicle.
2013: Unsuccessful Bid for Launch Complex 39A
Blue Origin's bid to lease Launch Complex 39A (LC39A) at Kennedy Space Center was unsuccessful in 2013. Their proposal for shared, non-exclusive use lost out to SpaceX's bid for exclusive use of the launchpad.
April 2014: SpaceX Secures 20-Year Lease for Launch Pad 39A
In April 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease contract for Launch Pad 39A, following NASA's decision and the denial of Blue Origin's protest.
July 2014: Jeff Bezos Invests Over $500 Million in Blue Origin
By July 2014, Jeff Bezos had invested more than $500 million in Blue Origin.
2014: Entry into Orbital Spaceflight Technology
Blue Origin entered the orbital spaceflight technology development sector in 2014 by partnering with United Launch Alliance to develop the BE-4 rocket engine.
2014: BE-4 Engine Development Agreement with ULA
In 2014, Blue Origin partnered with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to develop the BE-4 engine, a powerful 2,400 kN thrust engine intended to replace the Russian-made RD-180 in ULA's Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur rockets.
September 2015: New Glenn Announcement
Blue Origin publicly announced its plans for an orbital launch vehicle, New Glenn, in September 2015.
2015: New Shepard's First Uncrewed Launch and Landing
In 2015, Blue Origin achieved a major milestone with the successful uncrewed launch and landing of the New Shepard suborbital vehicle. The company also announced plans for its next project, the orbital rocket New Glenn.
January 2016: New Glenn Size Revealed
In January 2016, Blue Origin disclosed that its New Glenn rocket would be significantly larger than the New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle.
September 2016: New Glenn Design Reveal
Blue Origin unveiled the initial design and name of its orbital launch vehicle, New Glenn, in September 2016.
September 2016: Initial Unveiling
Initial illustrations and specifications for the New Glenn vehicle were released in September 2016.
2016: Majority of Blue Origin Funding Comes from Bezos' Private Investment
In 2016, the majority of Blue Origin's funding came from Jeff Bezos' personal investment fund, primarily supporting technology development and operations.
2016: Expansion of Seattle-area Offices and Facilities
In 2016, Blue Origin started expanding its offices and rocket production facilities in the Seattle area, acquiring an adjacent building to accommodate its growth.
2016: Charon Displayed at Museum of Flight
As of 2016, the Charon test vehicle is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
April 2017: Bezos Sells $1 Billion in Amazon Stock Annually to Fund Blue Origin
By April 2017, Jeff Bezos was selling approximately $1 billion worth of Amazon stock each year to fund Blue Origin, leading to criticism of his spending on spaceflight.
2017: Target Date for Crew Delivery to ISS under CCiCap
2017 was the target date set by NASA for the delivery of crews to the International Space Station (ISS) under the CCiCap program. Although Blue Origin did not participate in this specific solicitation, it remained active in human spaceflight development.
2017: New Warehouse and Office Space Permits Filed
Blue Origin filed permits in 2017 for the construction of a new warehouse complex and additional office space, further expanding its infrastructure.
2018: Leadership Change
Bob Smith becomes CEO of Blue Origin in 2018, leading the company through several critical years of growth and development.
May 2019: Blue Moon Unveiling
Jeff Bezos revealed plans for the Blue Moon lunar lander in May 2019, designed to carry cargo and crew to the lunar surface.
June 2019: BE-7 Engine First Ignition Tests
The BE-7 engine, a liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engine designed for Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander, successfully completed its first ignition tests in June 2019.
2019: Blue Origin Receives $181 Million from U.S. Air Force
In 2019, Blue Origin received $181 million from the United States Air Force for launch vehicle development.
April 30, 2020: Blue Origin Wins $579 Million Contract for Lunar Lander Development
On April 30, 2020, Blue Origin and its partners secured a $579 million contract from NASA to develop a Human Landing System (HLS) for the Artemis program.
June 6, 2020: O'Neill Building Opens
On June 6, 2020, Blue Origin inaugurated its new headquarters and R&D facility, the O'Neill Building, marking a significant expansion of its operations.
2020: Blue Moon Proposal
A collaborative team, including Blue Origin, submitted the Blue Moon lander proposal for NASA's Artemis program in 2020.
2020: Launch Complex 36 Conversion Completed
In 2020, Blue Origin finalized the conversion of Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to support the launch of New Glenn rockets. The facility began operations, including construction of New Glenn prototypes, rocket testing, and design activities.
April 16, 2021: SpaceX Selected Over Blue Origin for Artemis HLS Contract
On April 16, 2021, NASA chose SpaceX over Blue Origin to develop the Human Landing System for Artemis missions II, III, and IV.
July 20, 2021: First Crewed Sub-orbital Space Mission
On July 20, 2021, Blue Origin's New Shepard completed its first crewed mission, NS-16, carrying Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen to sub-orbital space.
2021: First Crewed Mission
In 2021, Blue Origin launched its first crewed mission, sending Jeff Bezos and three others to space aboard New Shepard. This flight marked the beginning of commercial human spaceflights for the company.
2021: Blue Origin Receives Over $275 Million from NASA
In 2021, Blue Origin received over $275 million in funding from NASA for lunar lander projects and sub-orbital research flights.
2021: Project Jarvis
In 2021, Blue Origin began exploring ways to make the second stage of New Glenn reusable under "Project Jarvis".
2021: HLS Contract Contest
Blue Origin contested NASA's decision to award the Human Landing System (HLS) contract to SpaceX in 2021.
October 31, 2022: First BE-4 Engines Delivered to ULA
On October 31, 2022, Blue Origin announced the delivery of the first two BE-4 engines to ULA for integration into a Vulcan rocket. ULA CEO Tory Bruno confirmed the installation process shortly after.
November 18, 2022: Blue Origin and U.S. Space Systems Command Reach Agreement on New Glenn Rocket
On November 18, 2022, the U.S. Space Systems Command and Blue Origin reached an agreement that enables the New Glenn rocket to compete for national security launch contracts after completing required certifications.
December 6, 2022: Blue Origin Submits Second Bid for Lunar Lander Development
On December 6, 2022, Blue Origin submitted a second proposal to NASA for funding to develop a lunar lander, again leading the "National Team" which includes Draper, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Astrobotic, Honeybee Robotics.
January 2023: First BE-4 Engine Delivery
In January 2023, Blue Origin delivered its first BE-4 rocket engine to United Launch Alliance (ULA).
February 9, 2023: ESCAPADE Contract
NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract on February 9, 2023, to launch the ESCAPADE spacecraft to Mars using New Glenn.
May 19, 2023: Artemis V Contract
On May 19, 2023, NASA contracted Blue Origin to develop the Blue Moon lander for the Artemis V mission, scheduled for 2029.
June 7, 2023: Vulcan Centaur Flight Readiness Firing
On June 7, 2023, United Launch Alliance conducted a successful Flight Readiness Firing of its Vulcan Centaur rocket, powered by Blue Origin's BE-4 engines, at Cape Canaveral.
September 2023: Leadership Change
In September 2023, Blue Origin appointed Dave Limp as the new CEO, succeeding Bob Smith.
October 2023: Blue Ring Vehicle Announced
Blue Origin unveiled its new Blue Ring vehicle in October 2023. Designed for orbital logistics and delivery, the vehicle will be powered by its own dedicated engine.
2023: BE-7 Engine Thrust Chamber Testing
Throughout 2023, Blue Origin continued thrust chamber assembly testing for the BE-7 engine, further refining the engine's design and performance.
2023: Blue Moon Contract Award
NASA awarded a separate contract to Blue Origin for the Blue Moon lunar lander in 2023.
2023: NASA Funding for Lunar Regolith Project
In 2023, NASA awarded Blue Origin $35 million to develop technology for processing lunar regolith (moon dust and rock) into solar cells. This project, known as Blue Alchemist, aims to produce electricity and power transmission cables on the Moon's surface, with oxygen as a byproduct.
2023: Blue Origin Reports Hundreds of Millions in Revenue and Billions in Orders
In 2023, Blue Origin reported hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and billions of dollars in orders.
2023: Leadership Change
Dave Limp replaces Bob Smith as the CEO of Blue Origin in 2023.
February 21, 2024: New Glenn Unveiling
On February 21, 2024, the fully assembled New Glenn rocket was unveiled on a launch pad.
2024: Planned Launch of New Glenn
Blue Origin aimed to launch New Glenn in the third quarter of 2024.
2024: Blue Moon Thruster Testing
Blue Origin completed initial acceptance testing of the thrusters for the MK1 variant of the Blue Moon lander in mid-2024.
2024: USSF Funding
Blue Origin received funding from the US Space Force in 2024 to assess New Glenn's capabilities for national security launches.
2024: First NSSL Contract
Blue Origin secured its first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract in 2024, utilizing the New Glenn vehicle.
January 2025: New Glenn's First Launch
New Glenn, Blue Origin's heavy-lift launch vehicle, was first successfully launched in January 2025.
January 16, 2025: New Glenn's First Orbital Launch
On January 16, 2025, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time.
2025: ESCAPADE Launch
The launch of the ESCAPADE spacecraft aboard New Glenn is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, with the spacecraft expected to reach Mars orbit about a year later.
2029: Blue Origin to Develop Lunar Landing System for Artemis V
Blue origin is contracted by NASA to develop a landing system for the Artemis V mission, scheduled for 2029, which aims to further lunar exploration and pave the way for future Mars missions.
2029: Planned Artemis V Mission
The Artemis V mission, using Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander, is planned for 2029, with the goal of supporting lunar exploration and preparing for future Mars missions.