Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, expressed optimism about the incoming U.S. administration’s space agenda and dismissed concerns that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk might leverage ties with President-elect Donald Trump to undercut Blue Origin. Speaking to Reuters in Cape Canaveral ahead of the debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, Bezos said, “Elon has been clear he’s doing this for public interest, not personal gain. I take him at face value.”
The New Glenn rocket, a 30-story-tall vehicle, marks Blue Origin’s entry into the satellite launch market, challenging SpaceX’s dominance. Musk, who spent over $250 million to support Trump, has advocated for direct Mars missions, raising industry concerns about shifts in NASA’s space priorities.
Bezos shared a balanced view, saying, “We should do both—go to the moon and Mars. What we shouldn’t do is start and stop projects. Continuing the lunar program is essential.”
Trump’s administration is expected to emphasize Mars missions, potentially reshaping NASA’s focus. While Amazon, founded by Bezos, donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and will stream the event on Prime Video, Bezos noted that his meetings with Trump have not covered space matters.
Blue Origin, established in 2000, holds a $3 billion NASA contract to land humans on the moon later this decade. This will follow SpaceX’s Starship missions, which aim to transport humans and cargo to both the moon and Mars. Bezos’s remarks underscore his commitment to sustaining and expanding U.S. space exploration efforts.
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