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Lauren Sanchez’s All-Female Space Flight Set for Launch
Welcome to our live blog covering Blue Origin’s highly anticipated 11th human spaceflight mission. Today, Jeff Bezos is sending his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, and five other distinguished women to space. This groundbreaking mission is being celebrated as the first ever all-female crew to undertake such a venture in space exploration.
An unprecedented crew of six women is poised to embark on a suborbital journey aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The team includes Amanda Nguyen, a celebrated civil rights advocate set to become the first Vietnamese woman in space; Gayle King, renowned co-host of CBS Mornings; international pop icon Katy Perry; accomplished film producer Kerianne Flynn; successful entrepreneur and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe; and Lauren Sánchez, a distinguished journalist and philanthropist. The launch is scheduled at Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site, located 30 miles north of Van Horn, for an approximately 11-minute flight to the edge of space and back.
While widely promoted as the first all-female expedition to the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized demarcation of space at 62 miles altitude, it is technically not the absolute first. Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made history with a solo space mission in 1963.
However, Tereshkova’s mission lacked some of the celebratory aspects embraced by this modern all-female crew. “We’re a crew!” the women reportedly exclaimed in unison during an Elle magazine photoshoot, each showcasing “an all-black power look.” The magazine also highlighted that this mission marks a unique first: space travel with professionally styled hair and makeup.
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“Who wouldn’t want to look their best before a spaceflight?” Sánchez commented. Perry playfully added, “Space is finally getting glam. If I could bring my glam squad, I absolutely would. We’re going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut.”
For a detailed preview of this landmark flight, please refer to:
Key events
With just seven minutes remaining until launch, anticipation heightens for the space mission.
Oprah Winfrey, present at the launch site, conveyed to television reporters her immense pride for her friend Gayle King. King, one of the crew members, reportedly experiences a fear of flying and discomfort with turbulence.
Winfrey’s choice of yellow attire is a nod to King’s call sign, “Sunshine.” Meanwhile, pop star Katy Perry’s call sign for the mission is “Feather.”
Perry has announced intentions to “sing in space” during the flight, a prospect that may be more appealing to her than to her fellow passengers, depending on her song selection.
Gayle King recently shared in a television interview that she consulted Oprah Winfrey, among others, before deciding to participate in the space voyage.
She articulated her aspiration that children watching her today understand that “no dream is too big”.
Thus, the message seems to be: with close ties to a billionaire like Jeff Bezos, an 11-minute jaunt to space becomes a tangible possibility, even for kids.
King further relayed a piece of wisdom from her friend LL Cool J, who once told her, “dreams don’t have deadlines.” A profound sentiment indeed.
Jeff Bezos Expresses Excitement to All-Female Crew
Jeff Bezos was overheard via radio transmission telling Sánchez his regrets about not joining her and conveying his affection.
He further added that he is “eager to hear how the experience transforms” her upon her return to Earth.
Bezos stated:
Most amazing, most profound experience. I’m so excited for you, I don’t wanna get off. I wanna go with you.
When you get back I can’t wait to hear how it’s changed you. I love all of you. God speed!
The women are now proceeding to board the capsule, each ceremoniously ringing a bell as they approach the NS-21 spacecraft.
Blue Origin’s founder, billionaire Jeff Bezos, is on site to bid farewell to his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, with a hug and kiss.
The crew is now inside the capsule, settling into their seats and securing their harnesses. The world now awaits the launch.
For those just joining our coverage, the six women are currently receiving final pre-flight instructions in the designated ‘safety room’ at the launch site.
The countdown is now at T-minus 34 minutes. This mission marks Blue Origin’s eleventh human spaceflight endeavor.
Edward Helmore
Such space ventures inevitably prompt debate: are these endeavors more than mere pleasure trips, and should they be?
Gayle King admitted to experiencing “significant trepidation – which persists – yet, I recognize the unique intrigue in feeling both terrified and thrilled simultaneously. This sensation is akin to childbirth, knowing it would be painful, but also about pushing personal boundaries.”
Actor William Shatner, famously known as Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek, participated in one of Bezos’s initial spaceflights at the age of 90 in 2022. He recounted surprise at his emotional response, revealing he was moved to tears by the experience.
“Looking away from Earth and into space, I found no mystique, no inspiring grandeur… All I perceived was death. A cold, dark, infinite blackness. Unlike any earthly blackness, it was profound, enveloping, utterly encompassing. It was among the most intense feelings of sorrow I’ve ever felt,” Shatner disclosed.
For Bezos, this all-female mission might signify more than just a curated excursion aboard a self-piloted rocket. The Amazon co-founder is intensely engaged in a competitive commercial space race with Elon Musk. Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets have impressively accomplished 469 launches.
In comparison, Blue Origin has achieved 31 successful launches of its New Shepard vehicle, including 11 suborbital flights carrying human crews.
Key Facts About the Blue Origin Space Flight
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Historic All-Female Mission: Mission NS-31 is making history as the first all-female crewed launch to space since 1963, marking a pivotal moment for gender representation in space exploration.
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Not Technically the First All-Female Group to Kármán Line: Despite being billed as such, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s 1963 solo flight predates this mission in reaching the Kármán line, the recognized space boundary.
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Star-Studded Crew: The mission includes high-profile personalities: international pop superstar Katy Perry; respected broadcast journalist Gayle King; and media figure Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.
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Reusable Spacecraft: Blue Origin developed the New Shepard spacecraft to be fully reusable, specifically designed for human space travel.
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Autonomous Operation: The rocket is unmanned; passengers are situated in a compact, circular crew capsule atop the vehicle.
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Launch Timing: The launch window for Mission NS-31 opened at 8:30 am local Texas time (2:30 pm BST), with liftoff from Blue Origin’s Texas launch facility.
Katy Perry Engages in Final Preparations for Blue Origin Flight
Pop sensation Katy Perry is in the final stages of preparation before joining an all-female crew for a Blue Origin space flight.
The US pop star will be among five other accomplished women for what is heralded as the first female-only space mission in over six decades, according to PA Media reports.
The crew—comprising Perry, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and journalist Lauren Sanchez—participated in last-minute astronaut training sessions in Texas on Sunday, as documented in photos shared online by Blue Origin.
Perry also shared personal snapshots, proclaiming her intention to bring “the ‘ass’ in astronaut” in a post alongside Sanchez. They were pictured in custom blue jumpsuits designed by Sanchez for the mission.
The journalist based in the US disclosed to the New York Times earlier in the week that her jumpsuit design aims to “add a little flair to space,” while also being tailored to accentuate the female physique.
Earlier on Sunday, Perry announced she had received “confirmation” that her space journey on April 14th was predestined.
In an Instagram video, she explained she is “always seeking small signs from the universe, from my guides, my angels, my higher consciousness.”
“When I’m actively looking for these signs, they become quite apparent,” she added. During her space training in Texas, Perry recounted noticing two striking coincidences tied to nicknames her mother uses for her.
She elaborated:
When I received the invitation for this voyage, I examined the capsule’s design. Prominently featured at the front is a feather-shaped outline, which I took as a definitive sign because my mother has always affectionately called me Feather.
And today, during space training, there’s a lot of information to process. As we were wrapping up the day, after simulations in another capsule to test noise levels and expected conditions, they unveiled the capsule’s official name.
The capsule is named Tortoise. A powerful wave of energy surged through me. I exclaimed, ‘Wait, the capsule’s name is Tortoise?’
My mother uses only two nicknames for me: Feather and Tortoise. What are the odds that I would travel to space on a rocket, in a capsule bearing my symbol, the feather, and named Tortoise?
She concluded, “I believe in meaningful coincidences and feel deeply grateful for these affirmations, trusting that a force greater than myself is guiding this journey.”
Lauren Sanchez’s All-Female Space Mission Commences
Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight. Today marks a significant moment as Jeff Bezos’s fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, along with five other extraordinary women, are embarking on a journey to space. This mission is heralded as the first all-female crew to attempt such a feat in space exploration.
A team of six accomplished women—Amanda Nguyen, the civil rights champion poised to become the first Vietnamese woman in space; Gayle King, co-anchor of CBS Mornings; global music icon Katy Perry; acclaimed film producer Kerianne Flynn; innovative entrepreneur and former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe; and Lauren Sánchez, celebrated journalist and philanthropist—will launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The launch site is situated 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas, and the flight will be an 11-minute suborbital trajectory to the fringes of space and back.
Despite being promoted as the first all-female crew to reach the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space at 62 miles altitude, historical context reveals this is not entirely accurate. Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova achieved a solo spaceflight in 1963, predating this claim.
Nevertheless, Tereshkova’s pioneering voyage lacked the contemporary fanfare surrounding these new space pioneers. “We’re a crew!” they collectively proclaimed at an Elle magazine photoshoot, each sporting “an all-black power look”. The magazine further noted this mission as the first instance of individuals venturing into space while consciously maintaining styled hair and makeup.
“Who wouldn’t want to be camera-ready for space?” Sánchez quipped. Perry chimed in, “Space is about to get its glam moment. Let me tell you, if taking glam into orbit were possible, I would. We are definitely going to bring a new dimension to the term ‘astronaut.’”
For a comprehensive preview of today’s endeavor, see: