Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Reaches Space on Blue Origin’s First Manned Launch

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches carrying passengers Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and space tourism company Blue Origin, brother Mark Bezos, Oliver Daemen and Wally Funk, from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, on July 20, 2021. Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, reached space on Tuesday on his rocket company’s first flight with several other people on board.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by Bezos about 20 years ago, has been testing prototypes for its rocket and capsule for years. On Tuesday, the launch vehicle New Shepard soared above the Texas desert and reached about 66.5 miles above the Earth’s surface before returning. It lasted about 10 minutes in all.