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I’m more impressed that Bezos took the ideas that worked from Spacex and successfully copied it.

ProAm 5y ago
You mean tax payer funding?
JshWright 5y ago
Blue Origin actually predates SpaceX. They have been working in parallel on related ideas, so I don't think it's fair to say they "copied" SpaceX. SpaceX is definitely a lot further down the road, and what Blue Origin is doing currently is much easier. The energies involved in suborbital flights are much lower, and the fact that the rocket has a thrust-to-weight ratio low enough that it can hover makes the landing process a lot simpler.
- eco 5y ago
  I still can't wrap my head around how little Blue Origin has accomplished in 21 years despite having an earlier start than SpaceX and with Bezos injecting a billion or so into it every year. SpaceX launches people and cargo to the ISS, just completed the first shell of a nearly worldwide satellite internet network using reused boosters many of which approaching 10 flights, and is a few months out from test launching a fully reusable rocket with twice the thrust of the Saturn V using a novel-full flow staged combustion rocket engine of their own design. And now Blue Origin is seemingly dragging down ULA with them because of the constantly delays of the BE-4 engine ULA selected for Vulcan. I just don't understand how Bezos can find this progress acceptable. I want Blue Origin to succeed. Having SpaceX as the only US launch provider is not the future we want.
  - runawaybottle 5y ago
    Bezos doesn’t know the science as well as Elon. Not to say Elon is a rocket scientist, but knows enough to impact something (direction, velocity). Bezos is showing where he does know things. He knows what works (spacex design and vertical landing), so copy that. Amazon didn’t invent books, they just sold it cheaply and on the internet. It’s interesting, I think Musk and Bezos would make a good team, especially on something like Tesla.
  - Me1000 5y ago
    I think it comes down to a few different reasons. Firstly, SpaceX had to find profitability relatively quickly or die. Blue doesn't have that problem, thanks to Bezos' personal war chest. SpaceX couldn't gamble on the idea that space tourism would be a significant cost offset. Putting payloads into orbit was a more viable business model. Second, New Shepard is massively over engineered for what it is. The reason for that is that they plan on using it to learn how to make much bigger rockets. Though, I suppose you could reasonably argue that the delays of New Glenn means that wasn't a smart tradeoff. Lastly, Blue doesn't have the same laser focus SpaceX does. I think this is most likely the biggest contributor. They've made all kinds of different engines, they designed their own lunar lander, then they designed another one with Northrop, Lockheed, and Draper for NASAs HLS project. My understanding through people I've talked to with connections to Blue, is that Blue operated more as an R&D lab for the first several years of it's existence. I, like a lot of people, suspect now that Bezos is more focused on Blue they will start making bigger waves in the industry. At least I hope so, because I'm really excited to see competition in the space!
Me1000 5y ago
New Shepard landed after going to space nearly a full year before SpaceX's first landing. Obviously an orbital class booster is a different challenge than a suborbital booster, but the idea that Blue is copying SpaceX is just wrong.

You mean tax payer funding?

Blue Origin actually predates SpaceX. They have been working in parallel on related ideas, so I don't think it's fair to say they "copied" SpaceX. SpaceX is definitely a lot further down the road, and what Blue Origin is doing currently is much easier. The energies involved in suborbital flights are much lower, and the fact that the rocket has a thrust-to-weight ratio low enough that it can hover makes the landing process a lot simpler.

eco 5y ago
I still can't wrap my head around how little Blue Origin has accomplished in 21 years despite having an earlier start than SpaceX and with Bezos injecting a billion or so into it every year. SpaceX launches people and cargo to the ISS, just completed the first shell of a nearly worldwide satellite internet network using reused boosters many of which approaching 10 flights, and is a few months out from test launching a fully reusable rocket with twice the thrust of the Saturn V using a novel-full flow staged combustion rocket engine of their own design. And now Blue Origin is seemingly dragging down ULA with them because of the constantly delays of the BE-4 engine ULA selected for Vulcan. I just don't understand how Bezos can find this progress acceptable. I want Blue Origin to succeed. Having SpaceX as the only US launch provider is not the future we want.
- runawaybottle 5y ago
  Bezos doesn’t know the science as well as Elon. Not to say Elon is a rocket scientist, but knows enough to impact something (direction, velocity). Bezos is showing where he does know things. He knows what works (spacex design and vertical landing), so copy that. Amazon didn’t invent books, they just sold it cheaply and on the internet. It’s interesting, I think Musk and Bezos would make a good team, especially on something like Tesla.
- Me1000 5y ago
  I think it comes down to a few different reasons. Firstly, SpaceX had to find profitability relatively quickly or die. Blue doesn't have that problem, thanks to Bezos' personal war chest. SpaceX couldn't gamble on the idea that space tourism would be a significant cost offset. Putting payloads into orbit was a more viable business model. Second, New Shepard is massively over engineered for what it is. The reason for that is that they plan on using it to learn how to make much bigger rockets. Though, I suppose you could reasonably argue that the delays of New Glenn means that wasn't a smart tradeoff. Lastly, Blue doesn't have the same laser focus SpaceX does. I think this is most likely the biggest contributor. They've made all kinds of different engines, they designed their own lunar lander, then they designed another one with Northrop, Lockheed, and Draper for NASAs HLS project. My understanding through people I've talked to with connections to Blue, is that Blue operated more as an R&D lab for the first several years of it's existence. I, like a lot of people, suspect now that Bezos is more focused on Blue they will start making bigger waves in the industry. At least I hope so, because I'm really excited to see competition in the space!

Me1000 5y ago

New Shepard landed after going to space nearly a full year before SpaceX's first landing. Obviously an orbital class booster is a different challenge than a suborbital booster, but the idea that Blue is copying SpaceX is just wrong.