Blue Origin

Jeff Bezos defends wealth creation and free enterprise in an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier at Blue Origin’s Cape Canaveral factory. He argues that successful businesses earn wealth by creating products people want, and says politicians who blame business leaders may lack solutions to affordability and other social challenges. His comments come as Washington voters consider Initiative 645, which would repeal the state’s high-earner tax and prohibit future income taxes.

Oct 2026 · GeekWireNews article

Seattle startup Orbital Robotics plans to send two autonomous robotic arms to the International Space Station in the third quarter of 2027 for satellite-capture and servicing demonstrations using a NASA Astrobee robot. The joint program with Arkisys includes three demonstrations about a month apart, testing the arms’ capture and autonomous-control capabilities in microgravity and replacing a compute module on a captured Astrobee. The internally funded program uses scaled-down versions of Orbital Robotics’ ORA-A arm, which will remain aboard the station for cargo handling and follow-up experiments.

Oct 2026 · GeekWireNews article

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp says the company’s first outside funding round is oversubscribed but remains open. The Wall Street Journal reports a $10 billion raise at a $140 billion valuation, figures Limp does not confirm. He says the raise will help fund expanded operations, new technologies, and talent recruitment; New Glenn and satellite plans are among the reasons for seeking investors now. The company still targets a New Glenn return to flight before year-end after a May pad explosion.

Sep 2026 · CNBC TechNews article

Stoke Space co-founder Andy Lapsa says he is unsure he would choose Washington state if launching the rocket company today. He cites the state’s political climate, limited efforts to attract startups, Seattle public schools and a proposed tax on unrealized gains as factors that could discourage founders; he says several other states recently invited Stoke to expand there. Stoke is developing its reusable Nova rocket and has more than 350 Washington employees.

Sep 2026 · GeekWireNews article