Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. Photo: NASA

The chief operating officer of Jeff Bezos’ private space company Blue Origin is leaving, the company confirmed to CNBC on Wednesday.

Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith wrote in an email to the company that COO Terry Benedict’s last day will be Friday, Dec. 4, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. While those people said Smith did not elaborate in the email as to why Benedict is leaving, Blue Origin confirmed his departure to CNBC.

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