Katy Perry Blue Origin space mission « Euro Weekly News

With International Women’s Day coming up on March 8, pop princess Katy Perry is about to make her most out-of-this-world move yet – literally. The chart-topping Firework singer has been unveiled as a crew member on an upcoming all-female flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. In a blast of girl power that’s sure to send fans wild, Perry will join a star-studded team of women set to make history this spring. But, there are three big questions. Who owns Blue Origin? Who are the other women she will jet off into space with? And, finally, after recent criticism, is this the perfect comeback for Perry? Read on to find out.

A star-studded crew

Sharing the capsule with Perry are:

Lauren Sanchez – Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos’s fiancée and the mission’s organiser.

Gayle King – CBS presenter and broadcast legend.

Aisha Bowe – Former NASA rocket scientist.

Amanda Nguyen – Civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

Kerianne Flynn – Film producer and self-confessed space enthusiast.

In a statement cited by Newsweek, Perry gushed:

“If you had told me I’d be part of the first all-female crew in space, I would have believed you. Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child.”

Historic liftoff: the first all-women space flight since 1963

Not since the Soviet Union’s Valentina Tereshkova flew solo in 1963 has there been an all-women mission to the final frontier. Blue Origin hails this upcoming adventure as a game-changer for space travel, shining a spotlight on women’s achievements beyond Earth.

Lauren Sanchez, who first teased her plan for an all-women flight in a 2023 Vogue interview, said she’s

“honoured to lead a team of explorers on a mission that will challenge their perspectives of Earth, empower them to share their own stories, and create lasting impact that will inspire generations to come.”

When does the countdown begin?

Blue Origin hasn’t revealed the exact launch date, but they’ve confirmed it’s aiming for this spring – just before Perry kicks off her Lifetimes Tour on April 23, which runs through to November 11. So, if you’re wondering how she’ll juggle zero gravity with her popstar commitments, rest assured the rocket ride is expected to be squeezed in before she hits the road.

Why Katy Perry’s comeback has gone so wrong?

Some naysayers have questioned the star’s recent career moves. But could this intergalactic escapade be the ultimate comeback tactic? After all, if anyone can “Roar” her way back to top billing, it’s Katy Perry.

The celebrity space race

This isn’t Blue Origin’s first A-list mission. Owner Jeff Bezos hopped aboard the company’s first manned flight in 2021. Good Morning America co-host Michael Strahan and Star Trek icon William Shatner have also boldly gone where few talk-show hosts or sci-fi legends have ever gone before. Meanwhile, Richard Branson – of rival space tourism venture Virgin Galactic – soared above Earth in July 2021.

Elon Musk, the man behind SpaceX, has yet to blast off himself, although his rockets have ferried NASA astronauts (and more) to orbit. With Musk, Bezos, and Branson all vying for cosmic supremacy, it’s safe to say the billionaire space race is alive and well.

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