NASA green lights Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin for future missions, including planetary expeditions and satellite launches

<p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5f243785988ee356620ba528-2400/gettyimages-1142462855.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Bezos Blue Origin" data-mce-source="SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>NASA on Wednesday awarded a contract to Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin that will allow the aerospace company to compete for future scientific missions.</p><p>With the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket could take part in Earth observation missions, planetary expeditions, and satellite launches for the agency, Bezos' company <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/nasa-selects-new-glenn-for-launch-services-catalog">said</a> Wednesday.</p><p>The New Glenn rocket is a 310-foot reusable booster, expected to be launched in 2021. It is designed to lift 45 tons into low-Earth orbita third more tonnage than SpaceX's Falcon Heavy can lift.</p><p>Under the contract, NASA centers in the US will be able to "design spacecraft to take advantage of New Glenn's unique seven-meter fairing and heavy-lift performance for a broad range of missions." &nbsp;</p><p>NASA said in a <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-to-blue-origin-for-new-glenn-launch-services">statement</a> Wednesday Blue Origin's that New Glenn would be eligible for missions through December 2027.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-returns-to-daily-oversight-of-the-company-2020-12'r=kd-sub">Jeff Bezos is back in the trenches at Amazon. Insiders describe working with a more deeply involved CEO.</a></em></p><p>"We are proud to be in NASA's launch services catalog and look forward to providing reliable launches forfutureNASA missions aboard New Glenn for years to come," Jarrett Jones, senior vice president of Blue Origin's New Glenn program, said.</p><p>"The award builds on Blue Origin's existing partnership with NASA and will advance science and exploration to benefit Earth."</p><p>This isn't the first time NASA has chosen to work with Blue Origin.</p><p>In May, NASA awarded Blue Origin, Elon Musk's SpaceX, and Dynetics nearly $1 billion to produce initial designs for a human-landing system for the Artemis 3 mission. Bezos' aerospace company, founded in 2000, is competing against these companies to land NASA astronauts, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-be-7-rocket-engine-test-artemis-2020-12">possibly the first woman</a>, on the moon in 2024,&nbsp;</p><p>NASA <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-spacex-blue-origin-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-space-technology-2020-11">announced November 9</a> it had picked 17 US companies, including Blue Origin and SpaceX, to develop new tech for space missions. The chosen firms will get access to NASA's testing facilities and expertise, which it valued at about $15.5 million.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-be-7-rocket-engine-test-artemis-2020-12" >Jeff Bezos says Blue Origin's rocket engine is going to land the first woman on the moon, after successful test</a></strong></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-rocket-essential-business-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-3" >Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket company has been deemed an essential business by the government, allowing it to continue operating amid the coronavirus outbreak</a></strong></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-elon-musk-rivalry-history-timeline-2020-7" >Jeff Bezos just issued a rare compliment to his chief space rival, Elon Musk. It's the latest development in a 15-year feud between 2 of the world's most powerful CEOs.</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-nasa-contract-missions-new-glenn-2020-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-most-expensive-liquid-thoroughbred-horse-semen-2020-3">Why thoroughbred horse semen is the world's most expensive liquid</a></p>
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