Thread by @thesheetztweetz

Blue Origin director of astronaut sales @arianecornell is talking to reporters about the expected experience of flying onboard its New Shepard tourism rocket, and the first passenger flight planned for July 20:

Thread:
cnbc.com/2021/05/05/jef…

Cornell: Astronauts will join Blue Origin in West Texas four days before launch (L-4) for three days of training.

Cornell emphasizes safety, pointing to the 15 uncrewed test flight of New Shepard to date:

Cornell: "As far as I'm concerned it's a pretty priceless experience – invaluable, if you will – but this is an auction, so there will be a price, and we are leaving it up to those future astronaut customers to determine."

First question is on "what the regular prices are" for tickets on New Shepard flights:

Cornell: "We don't have details to share today about what future prices of the future seats will be."

Cornell: Blue Origin "will have a couple more crewed" New Shepard flights "before the end of the year" following the July 20 launch.

Cornell says Blue Origin has "done an extensive review" of New Shepard flight data, including from NS-15, and the company feels prepared to meet the July 20 launch date.

"We're ready, it's game time."

Cornell: Blue Origin is "not announcing the details of the rest of the crew" of the July 20th flight yet.

Cornell: Blue Origin "will have other people as part of the crew" but the public auction "is the only seat that is open for purchase."

Cornell: Blue Origin will "see what the demand is for flights" and then adjust the rate of its New Shepard launches "accordingly."

"We will do the cadence as we see best fit."

Cornell: Blue Origin would "love to" expand its New Shepard launches to other locations, including internationally, but that will also depend on demand.