26 September 2017 News

First Asian company partners with Blue Origin

New Glenn space vehicle. Image: Blue Origin
New Glenn space vehicle. Image: Blue Origin

Asian startup company mu Space Corp announced today at the 68th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide that it has entered into an agreement with Blue Origin to partner on a future launch of a geostationary satellite aboard the New Glenn orbital rocket. The launch is set to happen early in the next decade.

“We’ve decided to go with Blue Origin because we’re impressed with the company’s vision and engineering approach,” says mu Space CEO James Yenbamroong.

Last September Blue Origin announced its plan to build New Glenn, an orbital launch vehicle to carry people and payloads to low-Earth orbit destinations and beyond. Named after the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, John Glenn, the launch vehicle is designed to be reusable which enables lower cost access to space for Blue Origin’s customers.

“We look forward to launching mu Space on New Glenn to serve the people of Thailand and to be a part of expanding mu Space’s imprint on the Asia Pacific region,” says Robert Meyerson, Blue Origin’s President.

mu Space Corp is working to support the growing demand in Asia-Pacific for broadband, mobile, broadcasting and smart city services using space based solutions.

According to its long term plan, the company will launch its own geostationary orbit satellite in 2021. It also has ambitions to become the first company to offer space tourism in Asia.

“mu Space also shares Blue Origin’s vision of developing space technologies that will accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies,” adds Yenbamroong . “We want to deliver equitable access to communication services for all and improve quality of life on Earth.”

The agreement marks the first-time Blue Origin has partnered with an Asian launch customer. mu Space Corp was founded by entrepreneur and space enthusiast James Yenbamroong in Thailand and its focus is to develop satellite communication and space commercial transportation technologies for the Asia-Pacific region.

Popular articles

Popular articles

A future view of Mars where the sheltered Omaha Crater is being terraformed. Painting by James Vaughan. Lounge

Terraformal dreaming

Astronautics

Commercial launch development in Spain