Two of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs have been locked in a battle for space supremacy. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, are both working on ambitious space exploration projects with the aim of making humanity a multi-planetary species. However, this rivalry goes beyond just space exploration, as the two billionaires have a history of competing in different industries. In this article, we will explore the background of the rivalry between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk and the current state of their competition in the space industry.
The Background of the Rivalry
The rivalry between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk can be traced back to their respective business ventures. Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, which later expanded to become the world’s largest online retailer. Musk, on the other hand, co-founded PayPal, an online payment system, before moving on to establish SpaceX and Tesla.
Bezos and Musk have clashed on multiple occasions over the years. One notable example was in 2013 when Musk’s SpaceX won a contract to launch US military satellites, which was previously held exclusively by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, filed a lawsuit against the US government, claiming that the bidding process was unfair and that SpaceX was awarded the contract based on political influence. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, and SpaceX continued to win more contracts from the US government.
The Battle for Space Supremacy
The rivalry between Bezos and Musk has become more intense in recent years as both entrepreneurs set their sights on space exploration. Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000 with the aim of developing reusable rockets and spacecraft that can transport humans and cargo to space. Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the goal of making life multi-planetary by establishing a human settlement on Mars.
Both Blue Origin and SpaceX have achieved significant milestones in their respective space exploration projects. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket has completed several successful test flights, with the aim of eventually taking tourists to space. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has been used to launch numerous satellites and resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has already sent NASA astronauts to the ISS.
The rivalry between Bezos and Musk is not just about achieving milestones in space exploration. Both entrepreneurs are also competing to win lucrative government contracts for space exploration and satellite launches. In 2020, SpaceX won a $2.9 billion contract from NASA to develop a lunar lander for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2024. Blue Origin also submitted a proposal for the lunar lander contract but was not selected by NASA.
The rivalry between Bezos and Musk has also extended to the private space tourism industry. In 2021, Bezos announced that he would be flying to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, along with his brother and an auction winner who paid $28 million for the seat. This announcement came just weeks after Musk’s SpaceX successfully sent four civilians to space on the Inspiration4 mission, marking the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight in history.
Head to Head Comparison: Blue Origin vs SpaceX
Rocket Technology
Blue Origin is currently focused on developing its reusable New Shepard rocket, which is designed to take tourists to space on suborbital flights. The New Shepard rocket has completed several successful test flights, with the latest one in January 2021.
SpaceX, on the other hand, has a more diverse range of rockets. The Falcon 9 rocket has been used for numerous satellite launches and resupply missions to the ISS. The company’s more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket has been used to launch heavy payloads, including the Tesla Roadster, into space. SpaceX is also currently developing its Starship rocket, which is intended to be fully reusable and capable of transporting humans and cargo to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.
Spacecraft
Blue Origin has developed a spacecraft called the New Shepard Capsule, which is designed to carry up to six passengers to space on suborbital flights. The spacecraft features large windows for passengers to enjoy the views of Earth from space.
SpaceX has developed two spacecraft for human transportation: the Crew Dragon and the Cargo Dragon. The Crew Dragon spacecraft has already sent NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, and it is also intended to transport private individuals to space as part of SpaceX’s space tourism program. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft is used for resupply missions to the ISS.
Reusable Technology
Both Blue Origin and SpaceX are focused on developing reusable rocket technology, which aims to reduce the cost of space travel and make it more accessible to a wider range of people.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is designed to be fully reusable, with the rocket booster and capsule returning to Earth for vertical landings. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is also designed to be fully reusable, with the rocket booster returning to Earth for vertical landings and the spacecraft returning to Earth for ocean landings.
In terms of long-term plans, SpaceX’s Starship rocket is intended to be fully reusable, with both the rocket booster and spacecraft returning to Earth for vertical landings.
Government Contracts
Both Blue Origin and SpaceX are competing for lucrative government contracts for space exploration and satellite launches.
In 2020, SpaceX won a $2.9 billion contract from NASA to develop a lunar lander for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2024. Blue Origin also submitted a proposal for the lunar lander contract but was not selected by NASA.
To the lunar lander contract, both Blue Origin and SpaceX have won multiple contracts from the US government for satellite launches and other space-related services.
Private Space Tourism
Both Blue Origin and SpaceX are also competing in the emerging private space tourism industry.
In 2021, Blue Origin announced that its founder, Jeff Bezos, would be flying to space on the New Shepard rocket, along with his brother and an auction winner who paid $28 million for the seat. The flight is scheduled to take place in July 2021.
SpaceX has already announced plans to send private individuals to space on the Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of its space tourism program. In September 2021, SpaceX successfully sent four civilians to space on the Inspiration4 mission, marking the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight in history.
