Rivian R1Ts used for transportation in Blue Origin's Tuesday launch
VAN HORN, Texas (WEEK) — A piece of central Illinois manufacturing was present at Blue Origin’s manned rocket launch on Tuesday.
The civilian crew, including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, were seen by a Rivian R1T before the morning launch.
Rivian, the Normal-based electric vehicle manufacturer, is gearing up to produce its R1T for consumers by September. Amazon chose Rivian to produce its electric vans, with 10,000 expected on the roads by 2022 and 100,000 by 2030.
A spokesperson for the company said Rivian loaned pre-production R1Ts to the Blue Origin team to assist with launch-day transportation.
“The vehicles were built in Normal,” the spokesperson said.
Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket was flew to near space and was back on the desert floor within 10 minutes.
Passengers on the flight were Bezos, Mark Bezos, Oliver Daemen and Wally Funk.