Here's why Blue Origin just ended its suborbital space tourism program

"The small rocket and capsule have been flying since April 2015 and have combined to make 38 launches, all but one of which were successful, and 36 landings. In its existence, the New Shepard program flew 98 people to space, however briefly, and launched more than 200 scientific and research payloads into the microgravity environment. So why is Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos more than a quarter of a century ago, ending the company's longest-running program?"

""We will redirect our people and resources toward further acceleration of our human lunar capabilities inclusive of New Glenn," wrote the company's chief executive, Dave Limp, in an internal email on Friday afternoon. "We have an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of our nation's goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence." Move was a surprise The cancellation came, generally, as a surprise to Blue Origin employees."

Blue Origin paused the New Shepard suborbital program for two years, a move likely signaling a permanent end to the space tourism effort. New Shepard operated since April 2015, completing 38 launches and 36 landings, flying 98 people and launching more than 200 scientific and research payloads into microgravity. Chief executive Dave Limp directed people and resources toward accelerating human lunar capabilities, including New Glenn, to support a return to the Moon and a sustained lunar presence. The decision surprised many employees despite a flight eight days earlier and ongoing development of new boosters and capsules. Human flights have been sold for about $1 million per seat, but the program remained a financial drain even as it approached break-even; more than 500 people spent part or all of their time working on New Shepard.

Read at Ars Technica