Blue Origin wants to launch first manned rocket on July 20 and auctions seat

Blue Origin, the space company of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, wants to launch its first manned rocket on July 20. The company is also starting an auction, where space tourists can bid for a seat on board the flight.

“New Shepard will fly its first astronaut crew to space on July 20,” Blue Origin said in a press release. “We are offering a seat on this first flight to the winning bidder of Blue Origin’s online auction.” Interested parties can bid on the seat through the space company’s website.

The auction will be held in three phases. Interested parties can make closed bids for the seat until May 19. These bids will be made public on May 19, allowing users to see what the current highest bid is. A final auction will be held live on June 12, continuing the highest bid. The proceeds of the auction will go to Club for the Future, a foundation set up by Blue Origin. Club for the Future aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in science.

New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, the first American to go into space. It is a rocket that is more than 18 meters high and should launch six passengers to a height of about 100 kilometers on July 20. The rocket has completed several successful test flights in recent years, although the rocket has never flown with people on board.

Blue Origin isn’t the only space company to launch a rocket with space tourists this year. SpaceX is launching a Crew Dragon capsule with four regular citizens this year, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. That launch must take place on September 15 at the earliest.