Blue Origin pauses New Shepard flights for at least two years to focus on lunar landers

Blue Origin/New Shepard

Blue Origin announced on January 30, 2026 it will pause New Shepard suborbital flights for no less than two years, redirecting people and resources to lunar lander work for NASA's Artemis program. New Shepard had flown 38 times and carried 98 people above the Kármán line.

• Pause duration: at least two years beginning January 30, 2026; affects suborbital space tourism operations
• Resource redirection: personnel reallocated to Blue Moon lander and New Glenn rocket development for Artemis
• New Shepard history: 38 completed flights carrying 98 people above Kármán line (62 miles/100 km)
• Latest flight NS-38 one week prior; paused to support NASA Artemis lunar program and Blue Moon mission