'Blue Origin' Space Travel Attracts Over 5,200 Applicants... Bidding Price Soars to 2.7 Billion Won

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The bidding price for the online auction of a seat on the New Shepard manned capsule, a space tourism rocket operated by Blue Origin, the American space exploration company led by Jeff Bezos, has risen to $2.4 million (approximately 2.7192 billion KRW).

According to major foreign media on the 19th (local time), Blue Origin received bids from over 5,200 people across 136 countries in the first round of bidding for one seat on the manned capsule. In the second round of bidding, which started at $1.4 million, the highest bid has already reached $2.4 million.

Blue Origin plans to conclude the second round of bidding on the 10th of next month and will determine the final winner through an online live auction two days later, on the 12th.

The auction proceeds will be donated to Blue Origin’s nonprofit foundation, Club for the Future, which supports children’s science education.

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, plans to launch the New Shepard carrying its first private passenger on July 20, marking the 52nd anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing.

The New Shepard rocket consists of a manned capsule that can carry up to six people and a booster, and is expected to fly to an altitude of over 100 km above the ground.

At the end of last month, Blue Origin announced plans to start selling New Shepard tickets but did not disclose the ticket prices. Customers interested in space tourism were invited to submit their names and emails to receive more detailed information.

Meanwhile, Blue Origin’s competitor Virgin Galactic has sold space tourism tickets to 600 passengers at prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.