Katy Perry-Inspired? Reserve Your Blue Origin Spaceflight Seat—For a Premium Price!
Katy Perry Joins Historic All-Female Blue Origin Spaceflight
Pop superstar Katy Perry made headlines this week as part of Blue Origin’s first all-female spaceflight, marking a milestone in women’s space exploration since Valentina Tereshkova’s 1963 solo mission. The 11-minute suborbital journey, launched from West Texas on Monday, included Perry, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez, and four other trailblazing women.
The Crew and Mission
The NS-31 mission crew featured Perry, Sanchez, film producer Kerianne Flynn, engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, and TV host Gayle King. Their flight aboard the New Shepard rocket reached the Kármán line (62 miles above Earth), offering minutes of weightlessness and panoramic views of our planet before parachuting back to Texas.
A New Era of Space Tourism
Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, aims to make space accessible to non-astronauts—for a price. The company’s 11th crewed mission showcased its reusable rocket technology, emphasizing safety and commercial viability. While tickets aren’t publicly priced, past seats sold for up to $28 million, though recent reports suggest costs have dropped to around $1.25 million per person.
How to Secure a Seat
Aspiring space tourists can apply via Blue Origin’s website, submitting personal details and a $150,000 refundable deposit. The two-day training program covers safety protocols and zero-gravity preparation. However, selection isn’t guaranteed, and final costs remain steep. Notable figures like Star Trek’s William Shatner have flown as guests, while Perry and Sanchez’s spots were likely complimentary.
Historic Significance
This mission celebrated women’s achievements in space, echoing Tereshkova’s groundbreaking flight six decades ago. Sanchez, set to marry Bezos this summer, highlighted the rocket’s safety by joining the crew. Meanwhile, Perry carried a daisy mid-flight as a tribute to her daughter, Daisy, calling the experience “profound.”
Notable Blue Origin Travelers
Past passengers include Bezos himself, 90-year-old aviator Wally Funk, and actor Michael Strahan. The New Shepard rocket, named after astronaut Alan Shepard, uses eco-friendly liquid hydrogen and oxygen, aligning with Bezos’ vision of sustainable space travel.
Looking Ahead
With 58 passengers flown to date, Blue Origin continues to push boundaries in commercial spaceflight. As costs potentially decrease, the dream of space travel inches closer for more people—though for now, it remains a luxury few can afford.
Featured Image Caption: The crew celebrates after landing at Corn Ranch spaceport in West Texas.
This mission not only advanced space tourism but also symbolized a leap toward inclusivity in the final frontier.
