Katy Perry is heading to space on a Blue Origin flight, making headlines as part of an all-female crew set to launch on April 14, 2025. This historic flight, marking Blue Origin's 11th human space mission, will see Perry and her fellow passengers ascend aboard the New Shepard spacecraft, reaching the edge of space for a brief yet exhilarating experience.
The launch window for the New Shepard spacecraft opens at 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT, and the entire journey is expected to last just 11 minutes. The crew will soar above the Kármán line, the widely recognized boundary of space, experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness before safely descending back to Earth.
The six women making this journey include not only Perry but also notable figures such as Gayle King, co-host of "CBS Mornings"; Lauren Sánchez, a journalist and fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos; Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist; Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist and civil rights activist; and Kerianne Flynn, a film producer. This mission will be particularly significant as it represents the first all-female crew to launch into space since Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo mission in 1963.
Perry shared her excitement about the upcoming flight on social media, posting a group photo of the crew in their custom-designed space suits. She captioned the image, "Happy International Day of Human Space Flight. Forever in awe of the Universe and its alignment." The suits, designed with input from Sánchez, feature flared pant legs and a white feather design, combining functionality with a touch of glamour. "We’re putting the ‘a--’ in astronaut," Perry joked in an interview, emphasizing the stylish nature of their attire.
As the launch approaches, anticipation builds not only for the flight itself but also for the unique views the crew will witness from space. The New Shepard rocket is designed to ascend at speeds exceeding three times the speed of sound, allowing the passengers to experience the awe of seeing Earth from above. While the flight will not achieve full orbit, the brief journey to an altitude of 62 miles will provide a perspective few have experienced.
Coverage of the launch will be extensive, with CBS broadcasting live starting at 7 a.m. ET, leading into a special segment titled "Gayle Goes to Space" at 9 a.m. ET. For those wishing to stream the event online, Blue Origin will offer a livestream on its website and on YouTube, allowing fans to follow along as Perry and her crew embark on this groundbreaking journey.
This event is not only a celebration of space exploration but also serves as an inspiration for women and girls everywhere. Perry expressed her motivation for participating in the flight, stating, "You’re brave. You’re bold. You’re doing this to inspire so many different people, but especially young girls." This sentiment resonates deeply as the crew aims to break barriers and challenge stereotypes in the male-dominated field of space travel.
Blue Origin's New Shepard system is autonomous, designed to fly to and from suborbital space without the need for a pilot on board. The spacecraft has previously carried a variety of passengers, including celebrities and notable figures like William Shatner and Michael Strahan. The exact cost of tickets for this flight has not been disclosed, but it is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As the launch day draws nearer, excitement and curiosity about the mission continue to grow. The significance of this all-female crew cannot be overstated, as it marks a pivotal moment in the history of space travel. With each passing day, more people are becoming aware of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and this flight is a perfect example of that progress.
The NS-31 mission is a testament to the evolving landscape of space exploration, where diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly paramount. As Perry and her fellow crew members prepare to embark on this journey, they are not just flying to the edge of space; they are also paving the way for future generations of women in aerospace and beyond.
In summary, Katy Perry's Blue Origin flight is set to launch on April 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. ET, with a crew of remarkable women. This historic mission promises to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide as they witness the beauty of Earth from above and the potential of women in space exploration.
