Blue Origin's potential IPO signals the countdown to a new phase of the space race

Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon (AMZN), said his space company, Blue Origin, is likely to pursue an IPO in the coming years. There are a lot of ways to read this, but one is clear: The new space race is shifting up a gear as Bezos pits himself squarely against Elon Musk's SpaceX (SPCX). Government agencies and satellite operators looking to hitch a ride into space rely heavily on Musk's company, which completed the largest IPO in history this summer. That dependence, if you're Bezos, represents a market opportunity. And while we may tacitly love monopolies in America, we also love competition — especially if it can bring down the cost of what may be one of the most expensive things to do.