WATCH: Blue Origin's Bezos reaches space on 1st passenger flight

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Jeff Bezos has blasted into space on his rocket company's first flight with passengers.

He's the second billionaire in just over a week to ride his own spacecraft.

The Amazon founder soared to space with a hand-picked group in his Blue Origin capsule.

The passengers include Bezos' younger brother, an 18-year-old from the Netherlands and an 82-year-old aviation pioneer from the Dallas area.

They're the youngest and oldest to ever hurtle off the planet.

Named after America's first astronaut, the New Shepard rocket soared from West Texas on the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The up-and-down flight was expected to last just 10 minutes.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.