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Bidding on Saturday opened at $4.8 million and quickly shot up to $28 million. Blue Origin opened the auction for a seat on the inaugural crewed New Shepard flight on May 5 and more than 7,000 people from 159 countries registered, the company said on Saturday. Some of those bidders will be contacted about taking a seat on future space flights, the company said.
In order to qualify for the"Astronaut Experience," participants must meet a series of requirements set forth by Blue Origin, including the ability to deal with heights, walk on uneven surfaces, and handle up to three times the individual's weight. The participant will fill out a long series of waivers, as well as complete a special Blue Origin training program.
Bezos and the rest of the crew will float around the cabin of the spacecraft for just three minutes before strapping in again for the descent back to the ground. Blue Origin, founded in 2000, plans to use this launch system to carry tourists up to the edge of space. New Shepard's goal is simple: Give paying customers the ride of their lives. Passengers will get a few minutes of stunning views out of the largest windows of any spaceship in the world.
The company has yet to release any ticket prices or specifics related to its plans for full capacity space tourism. But, Virgin Galactic —
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