10 Private Space Exploration Ventures Revolutionizing Our Cosmic Future

2. Blue Origin: Building the Road to Space

Blue Origin sometimes feels like the quiet counterpart to SpaceX’s headline-grabbing approach, but make no mistake: their ambitions are sky-high. Founded by Jeff Bezos, this venture focuses on building the “infrastructure for space” so future generations can thrive beyond Earth. The company’s New Shepard rocket already carries tourists, scientists, and payloads on suborbital hops above the Kármán line, offering a taste of weightlessness—and perhaps a touch of nervous laughter—for those onboard. Blue Origin’s next steps are even bigger, with the forthcoming New Glenn heavy rocket and partnerships with NASA for lunar landers that could help return humans to the Moon. What makes Blue Origin stand out, though, is their long game: they want to see millions living and working in space, with sustainability and gradual expansion baked into every blueprint. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and Blue Origin is quietly paving the way.