CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An all-female crew, including well-known personalities Katy Perry and Gayle King, is set to embark on a journey to space alongside Jeff Bezos’ fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, and three other women.
The crew announcement came from Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Bezos. This spring, Sanchez will lead the group on a brief expedition, flying on board the New Shepard rocket from a launch site in West Texas. Although the company has yet to specify a launch date, it’s clear that this mission marks yet another milestone in their series of tourist spaceflights.
Sanchez, who is a seasoned helicopter pilot and former television journalist, was given the task of assembling the crew for the 10-minute mission. Joining the sensational crew are former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, who currently leads an engineering firm, research scientist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
Since launching its first tourist flight in 2021, Blue Origin has become known for offering short, yet memorable, experiences that include a few minutes of weightlessness in space. This will be the company’s 11th human voyage, following the very first flight which included Bezos and his brother.
While some participants have enjoyed complimentary seats on previous missions, others have paid significant amounts for the unique experience. It is still unclear who will bear the expenses for this upcoming journey.
The mission reflects the commitment to broadening space travel experiences to a diverse group of individuals. The inclusion of high-profile passengers like Perry and King is an indication of space travel’s ever-growing appeal beyond traditional astronauts and scientists.
