Pop star Katy Perry is set to make history alongside five other women as they prepare to blast into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ space tourism rocket, the New Shepard.
The upcoming flight will be a momentous occasion, not just for Perry, but for the entire crew, as they will be part of the first all-female crew to embark on a space mission.
Joining Perry on this groundbreaking journey are Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sánchez, CBS presenter Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
Together, they will travel aboard the New Shepard rocket, which is scheduled to lift off from its launch site in West Texas.
The flight, which is expected to last around 11 minutes, will see the crew soar more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth, crossing the internationally recognized boundary of space.
This will grant them a few moments of weightlessness, offering a unique experience for each of the participants. The launch window is set to open at 08:30 local time (14:30 BST), and the crew will have the opportunity to witness the Earth from an entirely new perspective.
For all the women involved, this mission symbolizes both personal achievement and the breaking of barriers in a male-dominated field.
The spacecraft that will carry them to the edge of space is fully autonomous, meaning no pilots are needed to manually operate the vehicle.
This cutting-edge technology ensures that the mission will be executed with precision, relying entirely on the spacecraft’s automated systems. As the capsule reaches space and returns to Earth, it will experience a parachute-assisted soft landing, providing a smooth and safe return for the crew.
Meanwhile, the rocket booster, which will separate during the flight, will land itself autonomously around two miles away from the launch site, further showcasing the capabilities of Blue Origin’s technology.
In a social media post, Katy Perry shared her excitement and personal reflection on this extraordinary opportunity. “If you had told me that I would be part of the first-ever all-female crew in space, I would have believed you.
Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child. Although we didn’t grow up with much, I never stopped looking at the world with hopeful WONDER!” Perry’s words reflect the power of imagination and the importance of believing in the seemingly impossible.
Her journey into space is a testament to her boundless ambition and the progress being made in space exploration, especially for women.
Blue Origin, the private space company founded by Jeff Bezos, pointed out that this historic all-female flight will mark a significant milestone in space exploration.
The company highlighted that the last all-female spaceflight occurred over 60 years ago when Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made history as the first woman to travel into space.
She embarked on her solo mission aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6. Since then, although women have made numerous significant contributions to space exploration, there has not been another all-female crewed flight until now.
This mission, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of how far women have come in breaking barriers, and it paves the way for future all-female space crews.
The upcoming flight not only holds historical significance but also reflects a broader movement toward gender equality in industries that have long been dominated by men.
As women continue to make remarkable strides in various fields, including space exploration, the visibility of their achievements inspires future generations to reach for the stars—literally and figuratively.
This mission, led by some of the most influential and trailblazing women of our time, is a symbol of progress, unity, and the boundless potential of the human spirit.
Blue Origin, a private space exploration company, was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Amazon.
With its ambitious goals, Blue Origin has positioned itself at the forefront of the emerging space tourism industry, aiming to make space travel accessible to private citizens.
However, the company’s early flights come with a steep price tag. While Blue Origin has not disclosed the full cost of tickets, a hefty deposit of $150,000 (approximately £114,575.85) is required to secure a seat, which underscores the exclusivity and high barrier to entry for these initial missions.
This price point highlights the niche market of wealthy individuals able to afford the experience, reinforcing the idea that space tourism, at least for now, remains an elite endeavor.
In addition to its suborbital tourism business, Blue Origin is focused on developing the infrastructure for long-term space exploration.
This includes creating reusable rockets and designing lunar landing systems, which are part of the company’s broader vision to reduce the costs and increase the sustainability of space travel.
A key element of Blue Origin’s strategy is the New Shepard rocket, which is designed to be fully reusable. After each flight, the rocket’s booster returns to the launch pad for a vertical landing, a process that significantly lowers the overall cost of subsequent launches.
This reusability sets Blue Origin apart from traditional space programs and is a major factor in the company’s push to revolutionize space travel and expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth.
For those who do make the leap into space, Blue Origin requires all its New Shepard passengers to undergo training.
According to U.S. regulations, astronauts must complete extensive training to ensure they are physically prepared for the mission and fully understand their roles and responsibilities in space.
Blue Origin’s training process spans two days and focuses on physical fitness, emergency protocols, and understanding the safety measures involved in space travel, including those specific to zero gravity.
While the training is relatively short compared to traditional astronaut programs, it ensures that passengers are well-prepared for the experience and can handle any emergencies that may arise during their brief trip to space.
In addition to the passengers themselves, Blue Origin also employs two support members who play a vital role in the mission.
These individuals, known as Crew Member Seven, provide continuous guidance to the astronauts throughout the flight and ensure constant communication with the control room.
Their presence is crucial for the smooth execution of the mission, as they help address any issues that may arise and maintain a connection between the spacecraft and mission control.
This support team adds another layer of safety and ensures that the flight is monitored at all times, helping to mitigate any potential risks associated with commercial space travel.
Despite the excitement surrounding the rise of space tourism, the industry has attracted significant criticism. One of the main points of contention is the exclusivity of space travel, with many critics arguing that it is a luxury that only the wealthy can afford.
The high cost of missions makes space tourism inaccessible to the majority of people, raising concerns about the ethics of offering such experiences to an elite few while most of the world remains grounded.
Actress Olivia Munn, for example, questioned the optics of space tourism ventures like Blue Origin’s, remarking, “There’s a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs,” during an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends.
Her comment reflects the growing frustration over the widening gap between the rich and the poor and the perception that space exploration is becoming a pastime of the privileged.
Environmental concerns also play a significant role in the debate surrounding space tourism. Critics argue that the growing frequency of rocket launches is contributing to environmental damage, particularly to the ozone layer.
A 2022 study led by Professor Eloise Marais from University College London revealed that rocket soot in the upper atmosphere has a warming effect that is 500 times greater than that of soot released by planes at lower altitudes.
This finding has raised alarms about the long-term impact of space travel on Earth’s atmosphere and climate.
While supporters of space tourism argue that private companies like Blue Origin are driving innovation and advancing space exploration, the environmental consequences of these activities cannot be ignored, and many believe the sector needs to address its carbon footprint more seriously.
In contrast, proponents of human space exploration, such as astronaut Tim Peake, defend the value of space travel, particularly in relation to addressing global challenges like climate change.
At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Peake expressed his disappointment that space exploration was increasingly viewed as a pursuit for the wealthy. “I personally am a fan of using space for science and for the benefit of everybody back on Earth,” Peake said.
His comments highlight the potential for space exploration to contribute to scientific advancements and solutions to global problems.
However, Peake also acknowledged the growing perception that space exploration is becoming a privilege for the elite, a sentiment shared by many who hope to see more inclusive and sustainable practices in the industry.
