Over 60 years have passed since a woman journeyed into space without a male counterpart. Now, six women are embarking on a space journey.
Among them are popstar Katy Perry, author Lauren Sanchez, journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, all set to launch on Jeff Bezos‘ Blue Origin rocket on Monday.
This mission, named NS-31 under the New Shepard program, aims to “create a lasting impact to inspire generations,” marking the first all-female crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo space flight in 1963.
The planned flight of the New Shepard rocket. Pic: Blue Origin
The 11-minute journey will see the self-driving rocket take off from Launch Site One in West Texas at 8:30 am local time (2:30 pm BST) on Monday, reaching a maximum height of 100km (62 miles) above Earth, technically entering space as the capsule crosses the Karman line.
Despite this accomplishment, they won’t be designated as astronauts by the FAA, NASA, or the US military due to differing eligibility criteria for commercial astronauts.
A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launch in 2021. Pic: Reuters
During their brief time in space, the crew will experience about four minutes of weightlessness to admire Earth from the capsule’s windows before descending back with three parachutes.
So far, 52 individuals have journeyed into space as part of Jeff Bezos’s program, including the billionaire himself, and actor William Shatner, who became the oldest person in space at 90 years old.
(L-R) William Shatner and Jeff Bezos before their respective New Shepard flights. Pic: Reuters/AP
Selection Process for the Crew
Jeff Bezos’s fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, organized the mission. Sanchez explained to Elle magazine that she chose her crewmates based on their ability to inspire others.
The crew members will share their experiences and insights from the trip, shaping the image of future space explorers.
Katy Perry, one of the top-selling music artists, expressed her excitement for this journey she had been anticipating for nearly two decades. For her, being part of the space travel initiative was a dream come true.
She exclaimed, “Sign me up!” when the idea of commercial space travel was first introduced by Blue Origin.
Popstar Katy Perry. Pic: AP
Journalist and broadcaster Gayle King. Pic: Reuters
On the other hand, for Gayle King, the co-host of CBS Mornings, the decision was more hesitant. Initially declining the offer due to apprehension, she now approaches the trip with cautious anticipation.
“When I got the call from Lauren and Jeff, my first reaction was a no,” she shared, acknowledging the mix of excitement and uncertainty she feels.
Former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. Pic: AP
Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist and CEO of technology company STEMBoard, described this moment as the culmination of her life’s preparation. Amanda Nguyen and Kerianne Flynn also expressed their delight, emphasizing their eagerness to share their experiences upon returning to Earth.
“I can’t wait to touch down on Earth and share what we bring back with the world,” Flynn stated.
Civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen. Pic: Reuters