Singer Katy Perry Joins All-Women Blue Origin Spaceflight with Some Others

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Katy Perry is preparing for a groundbreaking journey into space as part of Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission. The flight, scheduled for spring 2025, will mark the first all-female space crew since 1963. Joining her are journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. The mission is led by Lauren Sánchez, who played a key role in assembling the distinguished team.

The New Shepard rocket, designed for suborbital travel, will take the crew beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, 100 kilometers above Earth. During the mission, the crew will experience microgravity for approximately four minutes before making a parachute-assisted landing in the West Texas desert. Unlike traditional spaceflights, New Shepard operates without pilots, making every passenger a crew member.

This launch will be Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight and 31st overall. Previously, the company sent well-known figures such as Star Trek’s William Shatner and former NFL player Michael Strahan into space. Sánchez described the mission as a transformative experience, emphasizing the importance of sharing these stories to inspire future generations. Perry, one of the best-selling female artists, expressed excitement, stating that she hopes her journey encourages young minds to dream big.

Blue Origin’s recent missions have faced technical challenges. In 2022, an engine failure caused an uncrewed capsule to separate mid-flight, leading to a safe landing while the rocket was destroyed. Engineers identified an overheated rocket nozzle as the issue, prompting design improvements. A subsequent test flight in December 2023 successfully carried experiments to space, proving the system’s reliability.

As an advocate for children’s education and empowerment, Perry actively supports initiatives through her Firework Foundation and role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Her participation in this mission highlights the growing influence of private space travel and the role of women in shaping the future of space exploration.