Bezos-backed space tourism rocket to start selling tickets

Blue Origin, the space tourism venture backed by Jeff Bezos, will soon begin selling tickets for its rocket, the company announced Thursday.

Those who want a seat on the rocket, called New Shepard, can sign up for information on Blue Origin’s website. The company said in a tweet that details on how to buy tickets will be released May 5.

No details have been released yet on the cost or timeline for going on the rocket, but the company shared a video Thursday of Bezos driving a truck in the desert after a test flight earlier this month.

“How exciting is this? C’mon,” Bezos says in the video while driving to inspect a crew capsule after it landed back on earth.

It’s time. You can buy the very first seat on #NewShepard. Sign up to learn how at https://t.co/XNq9WALA7u. Details coming May 5th. #GradatimFerociter pic.twitter.com/K9jugCs9yz

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 29, 2021

The rocket has been on more than a dozen test flights in the past few years.

Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, has previously said he was selling $1 billion in Amazon stock annually to fund his space venture. 

The forthcoming ticket sales come as Blue Origin earlier this year delayed the launch of its New Glenn rocket until the fourth quarter of 2022.