The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it plans to buy space in suborbital capsules from Jeff Bezos’ company to test equipment for lunar missions. In addition to income from suborbital “space” tourism, the Bezos company Blue Origin will be able to receive revenue from NASA programs and other interested organizations and companies.

Старт ракеты New Shepard. Источник изображения: NASA

Recall that Blue Origin is preparing for regular launches of the New Shepard rocket with a passenger capsule for six seats. In January, the 14th successful test launch of the rocket and capsule to suborbital altitude took place. The first tourists will be able to fly in April this year. There they will be able to stay in zero gravity for a couple of minutes and see for themselves that the Earth is not flat, as some still imagine.

Гравитация на Луне в шесть раз слабее, чем на Земле. Повторить такие условия на Земле представляется очень сложным в обычных условиях, но в случае суборбитального полёта это можно обеспечить в течение той же пары минут. Для этого необходимо запустить вращение капсулы с заданной скоростью в процессе суборбитального полёта. Например, Blue Origin рассчитывает, что для имитации лунного тяготения капсулу в полёте необходимо раскрутить до скорости 11 об./мин.

The ability to test instruments and scientific equipment under lunar gravity near Earth conditions will allow NASA and others to better prepare for lunar missions, and Blue Origin can use additional funds to grow its business. We add that the beginning of the provision of these services is planned for the end of 2022.