Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket has successfully blasted off from its launch site in West Texas and is currently ascending towards Max Q, which is the most stressful part of the journey for the spacecraft as it experiences maximum aerodynamic pressure. Among those who have made it to space aboard this mission are singer Katy Perry, CBS News correspondent Gayle King, ex-NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, astrobiology specialist Amanda Nguyen, and movie producer Kerianne Flynn.
What to Know:
- The uncrewed Blue Origin NS-31 mission took off successfully earlier today.
- This marked the return to an entirely female crew since 1963 when Valentina Tereshkova made history as the first woman in space.
- Concerns have been voiced by critics regarding the space tourism sector’s exclusivity and its effect on the environment.
Stay with Diwida > As we offer real-time updates on this flight.
Amanda Nguyen, a sexual assault survivor and advocate, brought along a hospital wristband during her journey aboard Blue Origin’s spacecraft today. She used this item as her own version of a “zero G” indicator—an astronaut custom where individuals carry tiny mementos to mark when they experience weightlessness.
Nguyen, an advocate for survivors' rights for many years, mentioned that she took the bracelet from the hospital after her assault.
Feeling emotional, she revealed that her path to reaching space was an attempt "to heal."
Gayle King states that she "still cannot come to terms with" being referred to as an astronaut following her journey into space.
“I’m really pleased with myself at this moment,” she stated. She then added humorously, describing her situation inside the capsule, “It was like I was a total clutz trying to squeeze into that seat.”
King also disclosed that Katy Perry performed a version of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."
Sánchez was battling back tears during an interview after the flight.
"I’m immensely proud of this team,” Sanchez stated. She further expressed, “Words fail me, but we had the opportunity to witness the moon.”
She mentioned that it didn’t meet her expectations. "I'm not sure I could put it into words."
Blue Origin has issued verified details from their crewed NS-31 mission, affirming a flawless and successful journey. The New Shepard capsule ascended to an altitude of 346,802 feet above ground level, whereas the booster topped out at 346,481 feet—reaching well beyond 106 kilometers into space.
The liftoff occurred precisely at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time, with the capsule landing at 8:40:21 a.m., making for an overall mission length of 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
As soon as singer Katy Perry exited the New Shepard capsule, she raised the daisy flower she had carried aboard into the air.
She proceeded to kiss the earth upon her departure.
The vehicles transporting the crew members' companions, relatives, and dear ones are currently reaching the location where the capsule has landed.
The team is now disembarking from the capsule to meet them.
The recovery team is heading towards the touchdown location of the New Shepard capsule to secure the vehicle and check on the wellbeing of all individuals inside.
Upon arrival at the site, the team will perform inspections to verify the capsule’s structural soundness and ascertain that the crew members are healthy following their journey through space.
"I didn’t realize it would be so emotionally charged," Khloe Kardashian told AP journalists today, also expressing her excitement about viewing the footage from the trip.
She mentioned that witnessing today’s events has made traveling to space seem even more appealing eventually, whereas Kris Jenner stated she would decline such an offer.
The New Shepard capsule has successfully released its parachutes, signaling an important phase in its return journey towards Earth.
The spaceship was visible as it sailed through the air with the parachutes unfolding, guaranteeing a secure landing for the astronauts.
The mission control team commented after touchdown, "Congratulations and welcome back to Earth."
The Blue Origin New Shepard rocket has successfully touched down.
It carried out what reporters describe as a flawless landing as it made a vertical touchdown in Texas.
The team is cheering joyfully after the landing.
Catch a glimpse of the New Shepard's launch this morning.
Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket successfully fired up its engines and launched from its site in West Texas. It is currently navigating through Max Q, which is the phase of the flight when the spacecraft endures peak aerodynamic pressure.
The point of maximum dynamic pressure happens when the rocket is moving swiftly through portions of the atmosphere where the air density stays fairly substantial. This exerts considerable stress on the craft, rendering it a critical phase during the ascent.
Oprah briefly appeared in Blue Origin’s webcast to express her joy over her long-time friend Gayle King's impending journey into space. Recalling their almost five-decade-long bond, Oprah highlighted this mission as an important achievement for King, particularly considering her longstanding fear of flying.
Oprah discussed how King’s choice to conquer her anxieties and step onto the spaceship marked a significant individual victory. Even though King felt nervous, Oprah conveyed an unexpectedly serene demeanor, highlighting the profound emotional impact of the voyage, which extended far beyond mere space travel.
As engineers received favorable data from the rocket, mission controllers have issued the final approval for launch.
The mission is scheduled to commence within the next 10 minutes, with all pre-flight preparations completed.
Blue Origin released an image showcasing a collection of women who have etched their names in the annals of space exploration through different ventures such as suborbital and orbital tourist flights. The lineup includes notable figures like Hayley Arceneaux and Sian Proctor, both participants in the 2021 Inspiration4 mission organized by SpaceX.
Included as well is Emily Calandrelli, a science communicator who traveled to space via Blue Origin in the previous year, along with Sirisha Bandla, an official from Virgin Galactic, who made her trip into space alongside Richard Branson back in 2021. These accomplished women represent the expanding role of females as trailblazers in the realm of space tourism.
Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian were present at the Blue Origin launch facility to back up their friend and team member. Kris was taken aback, mentioning, "We came here to cheer for our pal and buddies, and honestly, I didn’t expect we’d ever chat with anyone from a spacecraft launching into space for real."
Khloé also provided some advice she learned from the Blue Origin team members, sharing their recommendations for making the most out of the experience: “One piece of guidance I really appreciate from our hosts at Blue Origin is not to record everything with your phone; instead, try to observe directly with your own eyes. Embrace being fully engaged.” The appearance of the Kardashian family at the launch location underscored just how high-profile this particular mission was.
The Blue Origin founder, Jeff Bezos, delivered an earnest farewell to the six individuals onboard the New Shepard spacecraft moments prior to the launch. With the crew comfortably seated, Bezos expressed some touching sentiments.
“I don’t wish to leave. I want to accompany you,” he stated. “When you return, I’m eager to discover how it has transformed you. I cherish every part of you. Until we meet again. May fortune favor your journey, wishing you success.”
The group, which includes Katy Perry and Gayle King, is preparing for a suborbital flight that will take them just past the edge of space.
Katy Perry, who was among the passengers on the Blue Origin trip, posted a tweet early today in all caps saying, "I LOVE YOU."
The six-member team for this morning’s Blue Origin mission has now entered the New Shepard capsule and commenced their final launch preparations. Inside the 12-foot-wide spacecraft are Gayle King, Katy Perry, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, Lauren Sánchez, and Kerianne Flynn.
The crew is presently performing communications tests with mission control as they get ready for launch. This process confirms that all systems are functioning correctly prior to initiating the brief suborbital flight.
Blue Origin, the aerospace manufacturer led by wealthy entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, is once more grabbing attention following this morning’s liftoff of its New Shepard vehicle. This recyclable craft represents the firm's efforts to lower expenses associated with venturing into space. Additionally, Blue Origin has engineered the New Glenn rocket, which underscores their ongoing endeavors towards both exploring outer space and facilitating commercial journeys.
In 2021, Blue Origin reached a crucial landmark as it became the pioneering firm to conduct a commercial suborbital trip featuring customers who paid for their seats. This groundbreaking mission comprised Jeff Bezos, his sibling Mark, octogenarian participant Wally Funk at age 82, along with an 18-year-old scholar. Such success marked a pivotal moment in the expanding domain of space tourism.
The six astronauts are en route to the launchpad, where throngs of relatives, buddies, and fans line the path to encourage them.
Katy Perry, Aisha Bowe, and Lauren Sánchez were spotted waving to the spectators as they drove past in their Rivian vehicle, giving a friendly gesture to people gathered outside Blue Origin's astronaut training facility.
Katy Perry is adding a personal element to her journey into space. Prior to her trip with Blue Origin, the pop star revealed that she plans to carry a daisy, which pays homage to her daughter, named Daisy as well. Perry mentioned this act symbolizes the preciousness and fragility of earthly life.
She hinted at sharing details of her forthcoming tour’s playlist while she was in space. The tour will begin on April 23, mere days following her short trip into outer space.
The passengers for Blue Origin's forthcoming space mission have finished their two-day training session at the firm's launching facility in West Texas.
The group, including Gayle King, Katy Perry, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe and Kerianne Flynn, practiced boarding and exiting the New Shepard capsule, as well as putting on and removing seatbelts in weightless conditions, according to Blue Origin's Ariane Cornell.
The training occurred close to Van Horn, Texas, where Blue Origin utilizes a group of airstream trailers for hosting and preparing their teams prior to the launch.
In 2021, the landscape of commercial space travel was significantly altered with Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson launching into space aboard spacecraft developed by their respective firms—a mere nine days separating these historic events. Despite Branson’s Virgin Galactic mission being initiated earlier, Blue Origin has taken the forefront in this burgeoning sector of space tourism.
Since that crucial summer, Bezos' firm has sent more than 50 individuals to the brink of space. Blue Origin frequently emphasizes its greater flight elevation, labeling Virgin Galactic travelers as astronauts with an asterisk.
One of the prominent passengers aboard New Shepard includes: Star Trek iconic figure William Shatner, who portrayed the experience as facing one’s own mortality; television personality Michael Strahan, who expressed a strong desire to go back right away; Wally Funk, a pioneering aviator who was previously refused spaceflight opportunities by NASA in the 1960s; and Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard, who rode aboard a rocket named for her father.
Blue Origin shared an image of its New Shepard rocket upright on the launchpad in preparation for the planned takeoff.
The picture depicts the completely assembled spacecraft beneath cloudless skies, indicating that all final preparations have been made for the suborbital flight.
The New Shepard rocket from Blue Origin is set for launch at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, with plans to carry several passengers, such as Katy Perry, into near-space territory. During this mission, the spacecraft will propel itself beyond three times the speed of sound up to approximately 250,000 feet above Earth’s surface; then, the passenger module will detach and proceed further upward towards space.
The assignment is anticipated to take around 10 minutes.
The team will journey slightly above the Kármán line, located at an altitude of 62 miles from Earth’s surface, which signifies the commonly recognized threshold into outer space. Throughout their trip, they will encounter several minutes of zero gravity before making a descent aided by parachutes and touching down securely within the Texan wilderness.
Journalist Gayle King is preparing for her imminent space journey and shared Entertainment Tonight's Nischelle Turner said she is "extremely excited" about the experience, although she's experiencing some anxiety. When questioned about her primary worry, King confessed, "You simply don’t want anything to go wrong."
King, who is 70 years old, shared that she sought advice from her kids, Kirby and Will, along with her good friend Oprah, prior to deciding to join the Blue Origin mission. They all backed her choice, and King mentioned, "Everyone will be supporting me."
Before the flight, King also talked with another team member, Katy Perry, and reached out for guidance to Michael Strahan, the ex-NFL player and television presenter who had previously traveled onboard New Shepard in 2021. "I visited Michael Strahan’s place... and he really put my mind at ease," King mentioned, noting that his encouragement made her feel more secure regarding the trip.
Blue Origin is preparing for another space tourism mission with notable participants such as CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, singer Katy Perry, research specialist Amanda Nguyen, ex-NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, and movie producer Kerianne Flynn set to join the journey into space.
The scheduled flight for today will send the team on a suborbital trip expected to last approximately 10 minutes, which is faster than many people’s daily commutes. The New Shepard spacecraft, part of Blue Origin’s reusable rocket system, will ascend over 100 kilometers (62 miles) into space—crossing the boundary known as space—and achieve velocities up to 3,500 kilometers per hour (2,300 miles per hour), about triple the speed of sound.
Once the majority of the fuel has been consumed, the crew capsule will separate from the rocket, enabling it to proceed with its climb. It will momentarily pause at the apex of its trajectory, offering travelers a short period of zero gravity before making its way back down to our planet.
Katy Perry is set for a journey into space as part of the first all-women mission since 1963, joining forces with other famous personalities for a weightless experience at the edge of Earth's atmosphere.
The pop star has mentioned that the universe sent her "signs" confirming that the journey, organized by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin It was the correct course of action.
In March, Blue Origin declared that their scheduled voyage for April 14 would include an all-women crew and passengers. Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, journalist Lauren Sánchez, put together a group of females for this journey, which was set to feature Katy Perry along with television presenter. Gayle King Engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
In an interview with Elle, Perry mentioned that she was enthusiastic about the trip and had been searching for an opportunity to venture into space for some time.
“I don’t have any time to feel anxious; I don’t have time to stress,” she stated. “I’ll experience something as soon as they count down, ‘10, 9, 8, 7,...’ but up till then, we’ve got tasks to complete. There’s work for us to take care of.”
When discussing her first response to Sánchez’s proposal, Perry mentioned: "'What should I put on?' However, truthfully, I've aspired to travel into space for close to two decades. I had been exploring every potential commercial opportunity."
Read the complete article by Theo Burman on Diwida >.
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