Blue Origin Announces They'll Take Tourists to Space by April 2019

Flying High

Following the reestablishment of the committee in June 2017, the National Space Council met earlier this week and got an update on the future of space tourism. Bob Smith, the man at the helm of Blue Origin, was in attendance to offer an update on the company's plans to take passengers into space.

Blue Origin is aiming to launch its first rocket ferrying space tourists by April 2019; a more conservative time frame than previously stated, where the company had pledged the launch would occur before the end of 2018.

"We will fly humans when we're ready, and not a moment sooner," the company told CNN Money, insisting that internal timelines had not shifted.

Blue Origin will use space travel to fund its future ventures, which will likely revolve around sending satellites into orbit. The plan is to make trips affordable and accessible, although it's not entirely clear just how much money the experience will cost.

A Blue Origin Space-cation

Competition is brewing between several companies vying to lead the charge for space tourism. SpaceX is apparently preparing for its first launch in late 2018, and Virgin Galatic also expects to transport tourists next year.

Blue Origin and SpaceX have very different goals, however. Although there's yet to be word on whether SpaceX plans to continue operating tourist trips beyond the one journey that's already been announced, Blue Origin expects to make frequent launches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTEhohh6eYk

Even the nature of the trips are very different: SpaceX will take two tourists on a voyage around the moon, and Blue Origin's passengers will be taken to the edge of space, allowing them to experience weightlessness and catch a glimpse of Earth from above.

Space tourism has been touted by various entities for many years — but it seems clear that before the end of this decade, it will be a reality.