Blue Origin Decides Partnership To Build Commercial Space Station

Orbital Reef, a commercial space station planned by Blue Origin (photo: twitter @blueorigin)

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is expected to end the corporate partnership formed several years ago to build a commercial space station. This change will involve changes in the leadership and relocation of staff in accordance with more pressing priorities.

The move comes after most of the staff working on the Orbital Reef project, a commercial space station planned by Blue Origin with Sierra Space, were transferred to other programs, such as a new moon landing contract with NASA and a strictly held space mobility project.

a Blue Origin spokesperson stated that Sierra would remain a partner in Orbital Reef, but did not explain in what capacity.

The transfer of Orbital Reef staff highlights the uncertainty in the industry's plans to build private replacements for the two-decade-old International Space Station (ISS).

Blue Origin, who is leading the partnership, is expected to continue working on its own version of the space station without Sierra, but it is not yet clear how this plan will be implemented.

Several Blue Origin employees who previously worked on Orbital Reef were transferred to a secret "space mobility" program to develop maneuverable satellites. Some are placed on the Blue Moon project, the astronaut's label proposed by the company.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, who started Blue Origin in 2000, has tried to revive the company's enthusiasm to tackle key programs facing major obstacles.

The company has postponed its launch of its suborbital tourist rocket, New Shepard, for more than a year after the 2022 crash. In addition, the development of their massive rocket, the New Glenn, has also been delayed.

Blue Origin partnered with Sierra Space in 2021 to build the Orbital Reef, which will serve as a microgravity science laboratory and low-Earth orbit tourist destination. However, the partnership is starting to crack, with disputes between the management of the two companies.

Blue Origin plans to continue construction of its own space station without Sierra, and this indicates uncertainty in the industry's plans to replace the ISS which is scheduled to retire around 2030.

NASA, which helps finance the Orbital Reef and three other proposals, plans to add more funds to one or two space station proposals by 2026. prudence has also emerged that the orbital market may be too small to support four different private space stations.

At the same time, Blue Origin is in the process of changing leadership, with Amazon's senior executive Dave Limp, who will replace the current CEO towards the end of the year.

These measures reflect Blue Origin's efforts to face challenges and develop its projects in the field of space exploration