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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Blue Origin auctioned one seat on New Shepard’s first human flight in 2021, and the winning bid was $28 million. The winner did not take that July 20 flight: Blue Origin said a scheduling conflict meant the bidder would fly on a later mission, while Oliver Daemen took the first-flight seat as the company’s first paying customer.
What Blue Origin auctioned
On May 5, 2021, Blue Origin announced an auction for one seat on the first human flight of its New Shepard suborbital spacecraft, then scheduled for July 20. It was a single seat on a specific flight—not a sale of the spacecraft or a published standard fare. Blue Origin’s announcement initially said the winner would fly alongside Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark.
How the auction worked and what it raised
The bidding began online with sealed bids, moved to a public bidding stage, and ended in a live online finale on June 12, 2021. Blue Origin reported that the seat sold for $28 million and that nearly 7,600 people from 159 countries had registered to bid. Those figures were reported by the company in its auction result announcement.
Blue Origin said the winning bid amount would be donated to its foundation, Club for the Future. The company described the foundation’s mission as inspiring future generations to pursue STEM careers and help invent the future of life in space.
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- BEGINNER MODEL-ROCKET-BUILDING KIT: The Blue Origin New Shepard rocket model kit allows ages 10+ to display or launch a 1:66 scale model of the Blue Origin New Shepard launch vehicle. It includes the rocket parts, design decals, a recovery parachute, and instructions. It requires rocket engines, Starters, Recovery Wadding, a launch pad system, and 4 high-quality 1.5-volt AA alkaline batteries for launch use (sold separately).
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Who actually flew on the first flight?
The auction winner did not occupy the seat on July 20. In an announcement on July 15, Blue Origin said the winner had a scheduling conflict and would fly on a later mission; the company named Oliver Daemen as the first paying customer for the first flight. Blue Origin’s announcement does not establish whether the auction winner ultimately flew on a later mission.
Blue Origin reported that New Shepard’s first human flight launched on July 20, 2021, carrying Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen. The company’s flight update identifies the four passengers. Thus, the $28 million auction secured the winning bidder an intended place on a later flight after the first-flight plans changed; it was Daemen, not the auction winner, who flew as the first paying customer on the inaugural mission.
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- EXPERT MODEL-ROCKET-BUILDING KIT: The Estes Pro Series II New Glenn kit offers serious rocketeer enthusiasts ages 18+ a hands-on experience in creating a 1:100-scale model of the Blue Origin New Glenn. It includes the rocket parts, design decals, recovery parachute, and instructions. It requires Estes rocket engines, starters, pro series recovery wadding, pro series launch pad system, and 6 high-quality 1.5-volt AA alkaline batteries (sold separately).
- SOARS UP TO 500 FT.: The 1:100 scale Blue Origin New Glenn delivers strong, dramatic liftoffs that match its commanding scale soaring up to 500 ft. (152 m) with Estes F15-4 rocket engine (sold separately).
- READY TO ASSEMBLE: This pro series expert model kit requires about 3+ hours of assembly time. Then pair it with an Estes Pro Series II Launch Pad and Pro Series II Controller (sold separately).
- SAFETY FIRST, FUN ALWAYS: Our rockets and rocket launch accessories are designed to be used with the NAR (National Association of Rocketry) model-rocket safety code. Always ensure you have an appropriate launch site, stand back at least 15 ft., insert the safety key, issue a countdown, and then you can let your rocket fly!
- WE IGNITE IMAGINATIONS: Since 1958, Estes has created educational rocket kits designed for an unforgettable launch experience. As a family-owned company, we have grown to offer exciting STEM products that engage aspiring rocketeers and the future minds of aerospace.
What the $28 million figure does—and does not—mean
The $28 million amount was the winning bid in a one-time 2021 auction. It should not be read as a current ticket price, a recurring fare, or evidence that a seat on New Shepard is now available at that price. Blue Origin’s announcement concerned this particular first-flight seat, and the sources establishing the auction and flight do not establish a present-day offer.
The event combined a high-profile first-flight auction with a stated charitable purpose, but the key distinction is between the seat initially offered and the passenger who ultimately flew on July 20. The auction winner’s later-flight outcome is not established in Blue Origin’s cited announcements.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Country Of Origin: China
- Model Number: EST7239
- Item Package Dimension: 18.3" L x 6.6" W x 1.5" H
- Item Package Weight: 0.263 lb
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