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New Shepard on the pad prior to flight.

New Shepard Auction FAQ

AUCTION OFFERING

Blue Origin is offering one seat on its first astronaut flight on July 20, 2021 to the winning bidder of Blue Origin’s online auction. Anyone can place an opening bid by going to BlueOrigin.com. The winning bid amount will be donated to Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM and help invent the future of life in space. 

AUCTION REGISTRATION, KEY DATES AND WHAT TO EXPECT

All bidders must first register here. The full registration steps are outlined below.

  1. Sealed Online Pre-Bidding: May 5 – May 19, 2021 During this period, you will make your opening bid. If you wish to bid more than $50,000, you will need to go through the verification process (more details on this process below). The high bid during this period will not be revealed.      

  2. Live Online Pre-Bidding: May 19 – June 10, 2021 On May 19, the current high bid will be revealed. We will notify you if you’re outbid and need to go through the verification process to raise your bid.      

  3. Registration Closes: June 10, 2021 You must complete the registration and verification process by Thursday, June 10 at 5 p.m. EDT to lift your bid limit and participate in the live online auction on Saturday, June 12, 2021.       

  4. Live Online Auction: June 12, 2021 at 1 PM EDT The live online auction will start on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. EDT. Two days prior to the auction, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to create a live bidding account. Online and phone bidding will start at the highest pre-bid and will continue until there is one remaining bidder with no higher competing bids. At that time, the auction is closed.  

FAQs

How do I register and place a bid? 

All bidders must first register. Once you enter your contact information and read and agree to the Auction Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, you’ll receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. After you’re registered, you can start bidding.   

If you wish to bid more than $50,000, you must complete the verification process.  

Already registered but can’t find your profile? Click here to log in. 

Can anyone bid or is it invitation only?   

Yes, anyone can bid as long as they register, and agree to the Auction Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. There’s no minimum bid level.  

How do I get verified to bid over $50,000?

To bid over $50,000 you must be verified by providing a refundable deposit of $10,000.  

To start the verification process, log in to your account and click the “Raise My Bid Limit” button: 

  1. Connect Your Mobile Device: Enter your phone number and you’ll receive a text message to verify.   

  2. Initial Review Underway: You'll receive an email once the review is completed.  

  3. Place Your Refundable Deposit: We’ll generate a wire code for your deposit and confirm receipt of wire transfer. All deposits must be made via wire transfer in U.S. dollars. You are responsible for any banking, transaction, or currency conversion fees associated with the wire transfer.  If you win the auction, the deposit will be applied to your final bid. Otherwise, your deposit will be refunded (less any fees) within 14 days following the close of the auction. 

  4. Identity Confirmation: Scan and upload a photo of your government-issued ID and/or passport. 

  5. Screening Call: The auctioneer will reach out directly to discuss the auction rules, logistics, and set up phone bidding if that’s your preference. 

You can track where you are in the verification process on your profile page. Once you’ve completed the verification process, you’ll receive an email confirmation notifying you that your bid limit has been lifted.  

If you have any questions during this process, please email astronauts@blueorigin.com. 

What’s included in my purchase?  

The very first seat onboard New Shepard’s first astronaut mission on July 20, 2021. The winner will fly above the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, and become one of the first 600 astronauts in history. The astronaut will go through two days of training and preparations prior to flight.

What documents do I need to complete before flying onboard New Shepard?  

The astronaut must execute each of the following documents: 

  1. Blue Origin’s Nondisclosure Agreement, which identifies a limited amount of proprietary information that Astronaut must agree to not disclose publicly. 

  2. Informed Consent, which is required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”). This document is designed to educate the Astronaut about the hazards and risks presented by suborbital spaceflight generally, and the New Shepard system specifically. The Astronaut will be presented with a document capturing the information required by federal regulation, and the Astronaut will also be given the opportunity to ask questions to acquire a better understanding of the hazards and risks of the mission prior to signature. 

  3. Waivers of Claims, which are required by Blue Origin, the FAA, and the State of Texas.  These documents state that the Astronaut waives his/her right to bring claims against anyone involved in the first Flight, including Blue Origin, its affiliates, employees, owners, contractors (including, but not limited to, RR Auction), and other customers for any losses Astronaut may incur in connection with the Astronaut Experience.  The document also states, among other things, that the Astronaut assumes all responsibility for any losses the Astronaut sustains. 

  4. Launch Services Contract, which captures the commercial terms associated with Blue Origin’s Astronaut Experience, including accommodations and transportation for the Astronaut and the Astronaut’s permitted guest(s) in West Texas, as well as media and other activities relating to the Astronaut Experience. 

For more information, please review the Auction Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. 

What are the functional requirements to fly as an astronaut onboard New Shepard? 

All of the requirements can be found in the Auction Terms and Conditions.

Where will I stay during my flight? 

Blue Origin will provide accommodations throughout your flight experience.  

How old do I need to be to fly? 

You must be 18 years old or the age of majority in your country, whichever is older. 

Can the flight day change? 

The dates, times, and other details of the first astronaut flight will be determined by Blue Origin and are subject to change without notice. 

Who else will be on the  first  astronaut flight other than the auction winner?   

The additional astronauts will be selected and disclosed by Blue Origin at its sole discretion. 

If I'm the auction winner, am I allowed to announce that publicly?  

Per the terms of the auction, you are not permitted to announce yourself as the winner until Blue Origin confirms and approves any public disclosures. 

I understand that Blue Origin will donate the winning bid amount to Club for the Future, a 501c3 nonprofit founded by Blue Origin. If I’m the winning bidder, will my final bid be tax deductible?  

Bids for this seat are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.