Blue Origin’s 11-Minute Space Edge Journey: Inside Katy Perry and Crew’s Step-by-Step Flight Experience
All-Female Crew, Including Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez, to Launch on Blue Origin’s Historic Space Mission
[Image: Crew members posing in flight suits]
Caption: The historic crew (L-R): Lauren Sánchez, Katy Perry, Gayle King, Kerianne Flynn, Amanda Nguyen, and Aisha Bowe.
Today, Lauren Sánchez (fiancée of Jeff Bezos), pop icon Katy Perry, and four other women will embark on an 11-minute journey to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. Launching from Texas at 9:30 AM local time, the NS-31 mission aims to cross the Kármán Line—62 miles (100 km) above Earth—where the crew will experience weightlessness and panoramic views of our planet.
The Crew
The six-person team includes CBS anchor Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe. Sánchez, an experienced helicopter pilot, serves as mission leader, though the fully automated capsule requires no manual control. Perry humorously dubbed the trip “putting the ‘ass’ in astronaut” during pre-launch preparations.
[Image: New Shepard rocket on launchpad]
Caption: Blue Origin’s reusable New Shepard rocket before liftoff.
Mission Timeline
Liftoff (T+00:00):
The BE-3PM engine—powered by eco-friendly liquid hydrogen and oxygen—will propel the rocket to over 2,000 mph (3,200 km/h), subjecting the crew to 3x Earth’s gravity. Weather or technical delays could push the 9:30 AM launch by up to an hour.
Booster Separation (T+02:40):
After engine cutoff, the booster detaches, leaving the capsule coasting upward. Passengers will float freely for 3–4 minutes in microgravity, akin to astronauts on the International Space Station.
[Image: Capsule separating from booster]
Caption: The crew capsule ascends while the booster begins its return to Earth.
Entering Space (T+03:30):
The capsule will surpass the Kármán Line, though this boundary is debated. Critics note Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s 1963 solo orbit mission, challenging Blue Origin’s “first all-female crew” claim. The U.S. defines space at 50 miles, a threshold rival Virgin Galactic uses.
Booster Landing (T+07:30):
The reusable booster will descend autonomously, slowing to 6 mph (9.7 km/h) for a gentle touchdown near the launch site. Designed for 25 flights, it underscores Blue Origin’s cost-efficient reuse model.
**Capsule Return
