In a recent interview, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos shared his optimistic outlook on the future of his space company, Blue Origin, despite the strong ties that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has with President-elect Donald Trump. Bezos expressed confidence that Musk’s influence would not negatively affect Blue Origin’s standing in the space race, emphasizing Musk’s commitment to public interest rather than personal gain.
Blue Origin vs. SpaceX: A Competitive Race
Bezos’ comments came as he prepared for the debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The New Glenn, a towering 30-story spacecraft, is expected to challenge SpaceX’s market dominance and make a significant impact in the satellite launch industry. Bezos conveyed his belief that the incoming administration’s space agenda will support healthy competition between private space companies.
Despite Musk’s close relationship with Trump, which includes his substantial financial support for the president-elect’s campaign, Bezos remains undeterred. Musk has been a vocal advocate for space exploration, recently suggesting that the U.S. should prioritize missions to Mars rather than returning to the moon—a stance that has raised concerns within the space industry.
Tensions Around NASA’s Future Plans
Bezos countered Musk’s proposal, stressing the importance of maintaining the U.S.’s moon exploration efforts. “We should do both,” Bezos said, addressing the potential disruption to NASA’s existing lunar program. “What we shouldn’t do is start and stop things. We should continue with the lunar program for sure.”
While President-elect Trump is anticipated to reshape NASA’s priorities, Bezos remains hopeful about the future. His company’s $3 billion contract with NASA to land humans on the moon later this decade will follow SpaceX’s Starship missions, Musk’s fully reusable rocket aimed at taking humans and cargo to both the moon and Mars.
Bezos and Trump: A Muted Relationship
Though Bezos has contributed to Trump’s inauguration fund, donating $1 million in support, he clarified that his interactions with the president-elect have been limited. “We really haven’t talked about space,” Bezos admitted.
The competition between Blue Origin and SpaceX will play a significant role in shaping the next era of space exploration, and despite Musk’s influence in Washington, Bezos is focused on Blue Origin’s growth and advancing the company’s vision for the future of space.
