Blue Origin announced late this afternoon that the company “will pause its New Shepard flights and shift resources to further accelerate development of the company’s human lunar capabilities.” Blue also stated that the program would be shuttered for at least two years.

They added that the “decision reflects Blue Origin’s commitment to the nation’s goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence.”

Specifics of the “resource shift” have not been released publicly at this time. Blue Origin’s lunar efforts are primarily located on Merritt Island and in Kent, Washington, while the bulk of the New Shepard effort is in Van Horn, Texas.

There will be much more to come from this story, stay tuned.

Author: Charles Boyer

NASA kid from Cocoa Beach, FL, born of Project Apollo parents and family. I’m a writer and photographer sharing the story of spaceflight from the Eastern Range here in Florida.