--- title: "Does Jeff Bezos Know His Space Capsule Is Named After a Socialist?" description: "When looking closely at a Blue Origin capsule, a former NASA scientist discovered that the craft in question was named after a bona fide socialist. " date: "2022-09-12" modified: "2022-09-12" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/blue-origin-capsule-socialist" categories: - "Future Society" - "Jeff Bezos" - "Off-World" - "Space" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "blue origin" - "jeff bezos" - "new shepard" - "the digest" --- # Does Jeff Bezos Know His Space Capsule Is Named After a Socialist? ![When looking closely at a Blue Origin capsule, a former NASA scientist discovered that the craft in question was named after a bona fide socialist. ]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## Look Closer When looking closely at a Blue Origin capsule, a former NASA scientist noticed something interesting — that the craft in question was named after a bona fide socialist. The former agency scientist, Keith Cowing, pointed out that this morning's [New Shepard mission launch]() — yes, the one where the [booster failed]() in spectacular fashion — was using a [capsule named after HG Wells](). You know, the British writer famed for his politically-tinged science fiction — as well as for [his personal politics](), which veered sharply left, in striking contrast to those of Blue Origin boss Jeff Bezos. https://twitter.com/NASAWatch/status/1569319117089382400 ## What's in a Name? Per the [British Library](), the "War of the Worlds" author "was a committed socialist whose political writing influenced, among other things, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights." It's unclear whether Bezos, the billionaire Amazon founder who's more or less the exact opposite of a socialist, is aware of the backstory on Wells — or, for that matter, whether he cares. While fellow billionaire — and [self-proclaimed socialist]() — Elon Musk tends to name his company's capsules after after inspirational-sounding words, like Endeavor and Resilience, Bezos has favored classic sci-fi authors with the HG Wells and Jules Verne capsules. Verne, the author of "10,000 Leagues Under the Sea," was also a [socialist sympathizer](). Given Bezos' [very capitalist worldview](), you've gotta wonder: does he know? **More on Bezos:** *[Jeff Bezos Says the FTC Is Being Vewy Vewy Mean]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()