Blue Origin could have first test flights with people in 2017, says founder Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin is planning its first crewed test flight next year. The company founder revealed the new plan near Seattle while having a tour of venture's research and development site.

Bezos said that many individuals have shown interest in having a commercial space flight. But Blue Origin has not yet started taking deposits from interested people, so it is still unclear whether those individuals will pay for a space trip.

Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, has spent a heavy amount in chasing his childhood dream and to make high-tech equipment that would make private crewed space flights a reality. More than 600 people are currently working at a former Boeing airplane parts facility. According to Bezos, he has tasted success in convincing the company for a test flight in 2017.

Washington-based Blue Origin has tested its spacecraft two times recently, and both the times, it landed successfully. According to the company, it will keep conducting tests until it finds them perfect. Once they are done with the testing phase, they will start working on other ships to test crewed space mission.

“The real money will be made selling rocket engines to others planning to launch satellites and spaceships”, said Bezos. Blue Origin has been contacted by Centennial headquartered United Launch Alliance to design engine for its new launch vehicle. Currently, United Launch Alliance is dependent on Russia to make engines for its vehicles.

Blue Origin is not the only private space company eyeing commercial space business. Some other US companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic are also testing their spacecraft to take humans to space. But Bezos doesn’t care about the competition. He said the real goal should be to take mankind to space through private space companies.