Boeing, Blue Origin Unveil Plans for Private Space Station

Boeing and Blue Origin announced plans Monday to develop a private space station that would operate as a private “mixed-use business park.

Meg Scarbrough

Monday, October 25, 2021 at 08:39 PM ET

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Blue Origin has announced efforts to launch a private, commercial space station in partnership with Boeing and other companies.Credit: Blue Origin

Key Takeaways:

Boeing and Blue Origin are partnering to develop "Orbital Reef," a private, commercially owned and operated space station.
Envisioned as a "mixed-use business park," it will host commercial research, manufacturing, and tourism, accommodating up to 10 people and starting operations by the second half of this decade.
Led by Sierra Space with contributions from multiple partners, this initiative aligns with NASA's strategy to foster private sector space station development as the International Space Station nears retirement.

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Boeing and Blue Origin announced plans Monday to develop a private space station that would operate as a private “mixed-use business park.” If completed, the installation would be the first collaboration of its kind to orbit the planet.

Multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos, who founded Blue Origin, said the outpost—called Orbital Reef—will be a commercially developed, owned, and operated space station floating in low Earth orbit. As a mixed-use business park, the company said it could be used for commercial research, manufacturing, and tourism.