Inside Blue Origin’s new Shepard Capsule That Will Bring Tourists to Space

By Krisana Estaura / 1490865911
(Photo : Blue Origin)
(Photo : Blue Origin)

Blue Origin has released the first interior photos of the New Shephard capsule that will take first paying customers to space by 2018. 

The announcement was made by the company's CEO Jeff Bezos on Wednesday, March 29.

According to The Verge, Bezos wrote in an email update that what makes the interior of New Shepard capsule unique is that "every seat's a window seat, the largest windows ever in space."

The photos show six reclining black leather seats with blue piping. The seats, arranged around the interior of the capsule, are emblazoned with the company's feather logo, which, according to Bezos, is "a symbol of flight with grace and power." There is also a small personal view screen to track the flight.

There is also a brightly lit console in the central portion of the capsule. Ars Technica, however, explained that it is not a table or an in-flight service bar, but the capsule's escape motor.

Unlike SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule that is intended to send astronauts to the International Space Station, the New Shepard capsule is a suborbital vehicle that will take people on an approximately 10-minute flight into space.  It has been successfully launched and landed five times already, but without any person on board.

Blue Origin has not disclosed the pricing for the trip yet, but Ars Technica believes it will most likely cost $100,000 to $200,000.

New Shepard will be bringing its first paying customers to space in 2018. During Ascent, Blue Origin explained that passengers could experience 3 to 5Gs, although the maximum forces will only last for about 10 seconds,

According to The Verge, a mockup of the capsule will be presented to the reporters during the 33rd Space Symposium from April 3 to 6 in Colorado Springs.

(Photo : Blue Origin)

(Photo : Blue Origin)