Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, announced an all-female celebrity crew for an upcoming spaceflight from West Texas. The crew includes Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn. Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, selected the crew members who will join her on a 10-minute spaceflight aboard a New Shepard rocket sometime this spring. The launch date has not been announced.
Blue Origin has been flying tourists on short spaceflights since 2021, with some passengers receiving free rides and others paying for the experience of weightlessness. It is unclear who will be covering the costs for this upcoming flight. Sanchez chose a diverse group of women with backgrounds in entertainment, journalism, engineering, and science to join her on this historic flight.
The upcoming spaceflight will be Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight, following Bezos’ inaugural flight with his brother. This mission represents a significant milestone for women in space exploration, as the all-female crew will showcase the diverse talents and accomplishments of women in various fields. The inclusion of celebrities like Katy Perry and Gayle King will likely bring additional attention to the mission.
The selection of the all-female celebrity crew for this Blue Origin spaceflight highlights the growing diversity and representation in the space industry. By including women with backgrounds in music, journalism, engineering, and science, the crew demonstrates the range of expertise and talent that women bring to the field of space exploration. This mission is a step towards promoting gender equality and empowering women in STEM fields.
As the countdown to the spring launch begins, the world will be watching as these six women make history by embarking on a spaceflight together. The mission not only represents a significant milestone for Blue Origin and space tourism but also serves as a powerful symbol of women’s achievements and capabilities in the aerospace industry. The all-female celebrity crew will inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in space exploration and STEM fields, further breaking barriers and advancing human spaceflight.
