secret spacefaring is enter its tip cringe era with the forthcoming launch of Blue Origin ’s New Shepard Eruca vesicaria sativa , send a work party that includes a fallen - off pop star and Jeff Bezos ’ partner to the bound of space .
Blue Origin has set a engagement for its next individual mission , which will launch a gang of six private astronauts on board the company ’s New Shepard rocket . NS-31 , Blue Origin ’s 11th crewed mission , is set for liftoff on Monday , April 14 from Launch Site One in West Texas , the companyannouncedon Thursday .
The mission will launch an all - female crowd that let in vocalizer Katy Perry , idiot box personality and Oprah ’s bestie , Gayle King , and Bezos ’s fiancée , Lauren Sánchez . Also on board will be former NASA rocket engine scientist Aisha Bowe , civil rights militant Amanda Nguyen , and film producer Kerianne Flynn . While some of the gang fellow member make common sense , the balance are flashy add - ons to a rather expensive tripper to suborbital heights where , pamperer alert , they ’re just going to float around for about two minutes , with the whole matter lasting no more than 11 minute of arc .
Katy Perry is joining five other crew members on Blue Origin’s upcoming New Shepard mission.John Shearer/Getty Images
Blue Originresumed its private spaceflight venture last yearfollowing a two - class hiatus due to a liftoff malfunction of the New Shepard garden rocket . In September 2022 , anuncrewed escape of New Shepard ended in flamesaround a minute after liftoff . Although those rocket trips are becoming more frequent , they ’re still wild .
“ I ’ve made no mystery of the fact that I ’m very nervous , but also very excited , ” Kingsaidon her daily showCBS Morningsfollowing the proclamation . “ And I only ask people , when you see me on the street , please do n’t tell me not to go … I just want people to embolden me on . ” That ’s nice — but also , do n’t go .
In the past times , some of these private missions have include scientific payloads to carry out research in the microgravity environment . This one , however , seems to be about vaunt an all - distaff gang led by Sánchez to ship on a “ mission that will challenge their position of Earth , empower them to apportion their own stories , and make lasting impact that will inspire generations to fare , ” Blue Origin wrote .
It seems like most of the mission goals could be achieved from the earth rather than by devote a hefty price for a buns on New Shepard . The very first seat on Blue Origin ’s rocket sold for$28 millionthrough a global auction bridge in 2021 . The cost for a ticket on the company ’s space tourism rides has not been made public , althoughreportshave suggested that a seat on New Shepard cost around $ 1.25 million .
Aside from how expensive it is , spaceflight should not just be open to randos like Perry . Call me a purist , but what does Perry really have to do with space ? It ’s so frivolous — especially during a meter when there is so much examination over NASA ’s budget and ongoing effort by the current presidency to shorten the space way ’s workforce .
Yes , the goal is to make space more accessible to everyone but we ’re definitely not there yet consider how exclusive these trips still are . In the meantime , private spaceflight is headed toward this extremely objectionable geological era that will likely disaffect most people from the rude wonder and interest in explore the cosmos .
astronaut healthblue originprivate space travel
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