Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space travel venture Blue Origin has confirmed it is using a Stena ro-ro to serve as a base for its first rocket launch.
Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith told Geek Wire that it will send its first crew on a suborbital space trip during the first half of 2019, and launch its first orbital-class New Glenn rocket in 2021.
He said the 2,175-lane-metre Stena Freighter (built 2004), which has reached Florida from Spain, will serve as the landing ship for New Glenn's first-stage boosters.
Blue Origin’s flight profile calls for the vessel to be moving while the booster moves itself through descent and landing.
Smith said the moving vessel increases stability at sea and will contribute to New Glenn’s projected 95% weather-reliability for launches.
The sale of the vessel was reported in September, with brokers linking it to Blue Origin.
