Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to fly into space aboard the New Shepard spacecraft at speeds of up to 2,300 miles per hour. However, this journey may come with significant risks.
6 Potential Dangers in Billionaire Jeff Bezos’s Space Journey
With an estimated net worth of $186.2 billion, Jeff Bezos has built one of the largest empires in the world.
As one of the richest men globally, Jeff can afford anything he desires. However, while some might be content indulging in yachts and splurging on private jets, this is not enough for the Amazon founder.
He is risking it all to leave Earth next month aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft.
So, what challenges will he face on this journey?
Inability to Breathe
The extreme altitudes that Bezos will reach come with considerable risks—typically, at altitudes of 50,000 feet, humans cannot breathe without a spacesuit—and Bezos will ascend to 350,000 feet, according to CNN reports.
While the cabin he uses to fly out of Earth will be pressurized, thus eliminating the need for a spacesuit, there is no guarantee that the cabin won’t lose pressure.
If disaster strikes and the cabin loses pressure, the billionaire and anyone else on board would quickly die from lack of oxygen and experience extreme forces on their bodies.
Spacecraft Disintegration
Although Bezos’s flight is suborbital and carries less risk than a full orbital mission, it can still be deadly.
In 2014, a disaster occurred when a Virgin Galactic spacecraft—similar to what Bezos will use—broke apart.
The premature deployment of the feathering system, designed to stabilize the craft as it descended back to Earth, added drag to the shuttle.
As a result, it disintegrated, and one of the pilots lost their life.
Zero Gravity Effects on Body Functions
Bezos is competing in the space race with Elon Musk.
As Bezos experiences zero gravity, his body will undergo immediate changes.
Fluids inside his body will become chaotic as muscles work to pump blood with increased intensity. This can lead to a swollen head and increased pressure on the back of the eyes, potentially altering their shape and even affecting vision.
Launch Failure
The infamous Challenger spacecraft launch resulted in the tragic deaths of seven brave astronauts after one of the machine’s joints failed during takeoff.
Millions watched their TV screens to witness the space exploration—but just 73 seconds into the flight, Challenger erupted into a fireball over the Atlantic Ocean.
The intense heat caused the fuel tank to rupture and tear apart, creating a massive fireball.
Medical Emergencies
If a flight to Spain can cause you ear pressure and headaches due to altitude, it’s no surprise that risks in space will be far more severe.
It’s not uncommon to feel discomfort when experiencing weightlessness for the first time.
However, there is no way to fully predict how your body will react—and if any medical emergencies occur in orbit, there will be no doctors around to help.
Harsh Space Weather
Strange space weather is unpredictable—it can cause harmful radiation, disrupt electronic devices, and even render all satellites in space nonfunctional.
Therefore, if Bezos encounters a space storm in orbit, with dangerous energy bursts, radiation, and massive debris, it is highly likely he would not survive.
