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Jeff Bezos to take Blue Origin's first space flight, Elon Musk trolled for 'sending others'

Jeff Bezos said that he will share the Blue Origin journey with his younger brother and best friend Mark

The raging battle of 'who first' between two billionaires and their ambitious space programs has taken a new and interesting turn. Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin have been competing with each other's announcements and events for quite some time. Now, Bezos has announced that he will be aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft for its first human flight next month.

Bezos will join the first crew to fly in a Blue Origin capsule, riding his own rocket into space on July 20. The Amazon CEO will step down from his post on July 5, just 15 days before the launch, to pay more attention to his space company. Currently, Bezos' stake in Amazon is worth $164B.

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Bezos made the announcement about the recent development in his space program on June 7 on his Instagram handle. "Ever since I was five years old, I’ve dreamed of travelling to space. On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend. #GradatimFerociter," he wrote. Bezos mentioned that he will share the journey with his younger brother and best friend, Mark. Also, the highest bidder in a charity auction will join them for the 10-minute up-and-down hop.

Bezos' highly anticipated space program is likely to kick off Blue Origin’s space tourism business. The company hasn't started selling tickets to the public for the short trips, yet. The capsule can hold six people and the company is yet to announce who might occupy the remaining three seats on the debut passenger flight.

SpaceX v/s Blue Origin

There have been numerous incidents in the past where the two billionaires' space programs have competed head-on. While Musk's SpaceX is primarily focused on colonizing Mars, Bezos aims to establish a true industrial base in space via Blue Origin. SpaceX and Blue Origin fought for the right to lease LC-39A, the rocket launch platform that was used to launch the Apollo moon missions. SpaceX won the lease in 2013 but was contested by Blue Origin in court. Currently, the lease rests in the hands of SpaceX. In 2016, Blue Origin announced 'New Genn', a heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle, directly in competition with SpaceX's 'Falcon Heavy'. In April 2021, SpaceX beat Blue Origin to a $2.9B contract to build the lunar lander for NASA's 'Artemis' program.

'At least he puts his fanny where his money is'

People flocked Twitter with hilarious reactions to the Amazon CEO's announcement. Comparing Musk's Space X to Bezos' Blue Origin, one user wrote, "Well at least he puts his fanny where his money is.. Musk sends other ppl into space and says "some of u guys might not make it back but thats just a chance i'll have to take."" Another tweet read, "When he's up there can he knock Elon Musk car out of orbit? Already enough crap floating around up there." One user wrote, "men* - and yes agreed... especially elon who has the means to live any life he wants on earth.. and has a kid and wife and still says nah we out."

People also weighed in on Bezos' divorce in the equation and wrote, "His ex is so lucky. How many former husbands actually leave the planet?" Some people also slammed him emphasizing on the 'irrelevancy' of spending so much money in the space program and wrote, "Meanwhile, some people have no clean drinking water, some people are being evicted from their homes or they are homeless, some of the working poor are without food! But yeah, go ahead and explore space!" One user wrote, "Welp, for the world's richest man who could end hunger & homelessness in the U.S he doesnt seem to be doin much here... So Blast off buddy! Wishing you well Sir!"