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Space Tourism Mission: Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry, and All-Female Crew Launch Aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard
An all-female crew, including Lauren Sanchez and pop icon Katy Perry, is set to launch into space today aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin New Shepard spacecraft. The suborbital flight, anticipated to last approximately 11 minutes, will propel the capsule to a peak altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers), surpassing the Kármán Line, the widely recognized boundary of space.
Suborbital Spaceflight Experience
Passengers aboard the New Shepard capsule will experience several minutes of weightlessness as the spacecraft ascends beyond Earth’s atmosphere. During this freefall phase, the crew will have the opportunity to unbuckle from their seats and float within the cabin, enjoying panoramic views of Earth and the cosmos.
The brief sojourn in space will be followed by a swift return to Earth. After just a few minutes in the vacuum of space, the capsule will commence its descent, deploying parachutes for a secure and gentle landing back on solid ground.
Mission Details and Launch Timing
The NS-31 mission is scheduled to lift off from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One, situated roughly 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. The targeted launch time is 14:30 BST (08:30 local time).
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The reusable rocket booster will power the journey, propelling the capsule into suborbital space before separating and autonomously returning to Earth for future missions.
The All-Female Astronaut Crew
The six-person, all-female crew for this Blue Origin spaceflight includes prominent figures:
- Lauren Sánchez: Entrepreneur and fiancée of Jeff Bezos
- Katy Perry: Globally recognized pop singer
- Gayle King: Co-anchor of CBS Mornings
- Kerianne Flynn: Film producer and philanthropist
- Amanda Nguyen: Advocate and activist
- Aisha Bowe: Aerospace engineer and former NASA rocket scientist
Below is a detailed timeline of their anticipated space journey:
The six-person crew includes Jeff Bezos’ fiancé Lauren Sánchez, pop star Katy Perry, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe
Katy Perry has said the all-female space mission was ‘putting the “ass” in astronaut’ as she prepared to embark on the flight
Mission Timeline: Key Milestones of the Blue Origin Flight
00:00 – Liftoff
Blue Origin is currently targeting a launch at 14:30 BST (08:30 local time), but this schedule remains adaptable. Potential weather concerns or minor technical adjustments could lead to a launch delay of up to one hour.
Upon launch initiation, the rocket’s single BE-3PM engine will ignite, commencing the crew’s ascent into space.
Fueled by a combination of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, this engine generates approximately 50,000 kg of thrust, with water vapor as its sole emission.
Within minutes post-launch, the rocket will accelerate to velocities exceeding 2,000 miles per hour (3,200 kilometers per hour), surpassing twice the speed of sound.
Both the capsule and its occupants will experience significant forces as the rocket reaches its point of maximum aerodynamic pressure, known as Max-Q in aerospace engineering.
According to Blue Origin, the crew, including Katy Perry, will encounter forces equivalent to three times the Earth’s gravity during the booster’s acceleration phase.
The NS-31 mission will launch from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One, about 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas, at 14:30 BST (09:30 local time). Taking the six-person all-female crew on an 11-minute trip to space. Pictured: A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket
Lauren Sánchez, an experienced helicopter pilot, will be mission leader for flight. However, the vehicle is entirely automatic and Ms Sánchez will have no control over the capsule at any point
02:40 – Booster Separation
Slightly over two minutes into the flight, the engine will have consumed nearly all its propellant and will detach from the crew capsule.
Although no longer propelled upwards, the capsule will possess sufficient momentum to continue its ascent for a further few minutes.
It is at this juncture that the crew will initially experience weightlessness.
This sensation is not due to escaping Earth’s gravitational influence but rather due to entering a state of freefall.
Despite continuing to ascend, without the engine’s upward thrust, the capsule and everything within it begin to fall towards Earth at the same rate.
This phenomenon is akin to the sensation felt at the crest of a steep rollercoaster hill.
In this state, the crew will briefly perceive the microgravity conditions experienced by astronauts orbiting Earth on the International Space Station.
Two minutes and 40 seconds after launch, the booster will separate from the New Shepard crew capsule (pictured)
The crew will also inlcude Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist turned entrepeneur
Blue Origin estimates the duration of weightlessness to be approximately three to four minutes, after which the capsule will begin its descent back to Earth.
03:30 – Entering Space (Kármán Line Crossing)
The New Shepard capsule is projected to attain a maximum altitude ranging from 62 to 66 miles (100-107 kilometers).
This will position it just beyond the Kármán Line – a demarcation frequently used to define the boundary of outer space.
Based on prior Blue Origin mission data, NS-31 is anticipated to traverse the Kármán Line roughly three and a half minutes post-launch, marking its official entry into space.
Blue Origin asserts this mission will mark the inaugural all-female crewed voyage into space, a claim that has faced some contestation.
This assertion overlooks the pioneering spaceflight of Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, who undertook a solo orbital mission in 1963.
Furthermore, the validity of the Kármán Line as the definitive edge of space is debated within the scientific community.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, says that this will be the first all female crew to enter space. However, this is not strictly true as Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, flew a solo mission to orbit in 1963
The Kármán Line represents the altitude at which aeronautical vehicles can no longer rely on atmospheric lift for flight, requiring rocket propulsion systems.
However, this boundary lies approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) below the lowest orbiting satellites and around 190 miles (305 kilometers) beneath the orbit of the International Space Station.
Conversely, it is situated above the 50-mile (80-kilometer) threshold recognized by the U.S. government as the definition of space, which is also employed by competing space tourism company Virgin Galactic.
07:30 – Booster Returns to Earth (Autonomous Landing)
While Lauren Sánchez and the other spaceflight participants aboard New Shepard are experiencing panoramic views, the booster section of the rocket will be executing its return sequence to Earth.
Subsequent to separating from the capsule, the booster stage will initiate a controlled descent back towards the launch site area.
Employing drag brakes, the booster decelerates to half its speed and corrects its orientation before reigniting its engines using residual fuel.
During the final phase of descent, the New Shepard booster will achieve a controlled speed of just 6 miles per hour (9.7 kmph), ensuring a gentle touchdown.
While the crew is enjoying the views, the booster section will return to Earth and slow its descent for a safe landing. The booster will touch down on a landing pad seven minutes and 30 seconds after launch. Pictured: A New Shepard Booster touches down during the NS-28 mission
After completing the journey into space, the capsule will start to fall, deploying three parachutes to slow its descent. Pictured: New Shepard mission NS-24 returns to Earth
Just 10 to 11 minutes after launch, the New Shepard Crew capsule will make a safe landing within a few miles of the launch site. Pictured: New Shepard crew capsule from mission NS-18 after landing
Approximately seven minutes after launch, the booster will execute a vertical landing on a designated landing pad situated roughly two miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the launch complex.
Mirroring SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket technology, this capability enables Blue Origin to reuse its boosters across multiple flights, substantially reducing the overall expenses of space travel.
Each BE-3PM engine has a lifespan of up to four uses before requiring replacement, while the New Shepard rocket itself is designed for up to 25 launches following refurbishment.
11:00 – Touchdown (Capsule Landing)
After several minutes of weightlessness, the New Shepard capsule will commence its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Crew members will refasten themselves into their seats as the capsule initiates its descent and gravitational forces gradually return.
The capsule will deploy a system of three separate parachutes to decelerate its descent velocity, facilitating a smooth and soft landing.
Ultimately, the capsule will touch down safely back on Earth, approximately 10 to 11 minutes from its initial launch.