American pop star Katy Perry is set to fly to the edge of space today with an all-women crew aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, marking a milestone in commercial space travel. The launch is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT (2:30 pm BST) from a site in Western Texas.
Perry, 40, known for hits like I Kissed a Girl and Roar, will be joined by five other trailblazing women: former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyễn, film producer Kerianne Flynn, CBS News anchor Gayle King, and journalist Lauren Sánchez—who is also engaged to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.
The mission, Blue Origin’s 11th crewed launch, is suborbital but will cross the Kármán line, a point 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth recognized as the boundary of space. The entire flight will last about 10 to 11 minutes. During this time, the rocket will accelerate to over three times the speed of sound before the capsule separates. At that moment, the passengers can unbuckle to experience weightlessness for a few minutes before preparing for reentry.
The capsule will descend using parachutes and land in the Texas desert, where a ground crew will be waiting to assist the team.
Though the journey is short, it has sparked wide interest not just because of the celebrity factor, but because it features a fully female crew. Perry, speaking earlier on Facebook, said she hoped the flight would inspire young girls to dream big. “Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child… I am motivated more than ever to be an example for my daughter that women should take up space—literally and figuratively,” she wrote.
The mission also includes a touch of science. Aisha Bowe will carry out three short experiments during the flight, including studies on plant biology and human physiology.
Known for her glamorous persona, Perry said she plans to bring style to space. “We are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut,” she joked during an interview, highlighting the contrast between science, fashion, and femininity. The launch can be watched live on Blue Origin’s official website.
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