Jeff Bezos Doesn't See A Threat From Musk-Trump's Relationship In Space Competition

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, with Bill Nelson, from NASA (right) (photo: x @SenBillNelson)

JAKARTA The founder of Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, stated that he did not see any close ties between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and the elected US President, Donald Trump, as a threat to his company, Blue Origin. Bezos added that he felt "very optimistic" about the space agenda of future administration.

"Elon is very clear that he is doing this for the public interest, not for personal gain. I believe in his words," Bezos was quoted as saying by VOI from Reuters.

The comments came as Bezos was in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to witness Blue Origin's inaugural launch of the New Glenn rocket. The 30-story rocket is expected to rival SpaceX's market dominance and be the start of Blue Origin's entry into the long-delayed satellite launch business.

Musk, who spent more than a quarter billion dollars supporting Trump's campaign, had a major influence on the president-elect in space affairs.

Last month, Musk suggested that the US immediately send a mission to Mars without having to go to the moon first. This statement sparked concerns in the space industry regarding possible major changes to NASA's exploration program.

"In my opinion, we have to do both we need to go to the moon and Mars," Bezos said when asked if he was worried about changing NASA's lunar program.

"What we shouldn't do is start and stop the program. We have to continue the lunar program without any doubt," he added.

Trump, who is entering his second term as president, is expected to make major changes to NASA's lunar program and focus more on sending missions to Mars.

Amazon, a company founded by Bezos, donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund and will air the event via Prime Video service. Bezos, who now serves as Amazon's executive chairman, revealed that even though he had met Trump, they "have never talked about space."

Blue Origin, founded by Bezos in 2000, has a USD 3 billion contract with NASA to land humans on the moon by the end of the decade, after a mission by SpaceX's Starship. Starship is a rocket that can be fully reused and designed to transport humans as well as cargo to the moon and Mars.