Mon Jan 13 04:42:41 UTC 2025: ## Bezos Confident Despite Musk’s Influence on Trump’s Space Agenda

**CAPE CANAVERAL, FL** – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressed optimism about the incoming administration’s space plans, despite Elon Musk’s close ties to President-elect Donald Trump. Speaking to Reuters on Sunday ahead of the maiden launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, Bezos downplayed concerns that Musk’s influence could unfairly benefit SpaceX.

“Elon has been very clear that he’s doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain. And I take him at face value,” Bezos stated. The launch of New Glenn marks a significant step for Blue Origin, aiming to challenge SpaceX’s dominance in the commercial launch market.

Musk, a significant contributor to Trump’s election campaign, has already advocated for a shift in NASA’s priorities, suggesting a direct Mars mission instead of a return to the Moon. This has raised concerns within the space industry about potential upheaval. Bezos, however, advocated for a balanced approach: “My own opinion is that we should do both – we need to go to the moon and we should go to Mars. What we shouldn’t do is start and stop things. We should continue with the lunar program for sure.”

While Amazon has contributed to Trump’s inauguration, and Bezos has met with the President-elect, he insisted that space wasn’t a topic of discussion. Blue Origin currently holds a $3 billion NASA contract for lunar missions, alongside SpaceX, which is developing its Starship for lunar and Martian missions. The upcoming Trump administration is expected to prioritize a Mars focus, potentially reshaping NASA’s lunar program.

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