There’s no stage quite like space — and Katy Perry’s next big moment will be above Earth’s atmosphere. The pop icon is set to lift off Monday with an all-female crew aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket.
Perry joins female team on space adventure
Perry, known for hits like Firework and California Gurls, will travel over 100 kilometres into space. The journey will be aboard a New Shepard rocket from Blue Origin, Bezos’ private space company.
Five other women, including Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez, will join Perry on this short trip. The launch is planned for 8:30 am local time (1330 GMT) from western Texas.
The rocket flies vertically before releasing a crew capsule mid-flight. The capsule then parachutes back safely with a retro-rocket assist. This marks the first all-female space crew since 1963.
It’s also Blue Origin’s 11th sub-orbital flight with humans on board. The firm has been offering such trips as part of its space tourism efforts.
Perry flies “for her daughter”
In an interview with Elle magazine, Perry said her daughter was her main inspiration. “I’m doing this for Daisy,” she shared, referring to her child with actor Orlando Bloom.
“I want her to know there are no limits,” Perry said. She hopes Daisy will be proud to say, “Mum went to space,” at school.
During the 10-minute flight, the capsule will cross the Karman line. That’s the recognised edge of space, where passengers will briefly float in zero gravity.
High-profile crew boosts space tourism
Perry will be joined by TV host Gayle King, producer Kerianne Flynn, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, and activist Amanda Nguyen.
They follow 52 previous passengers flown by Blue Origin, including actor William Shatner. Such celebrity travellers help keep space tourism in the public eye.
Bezos’ Blue Origin faces competition from Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. Both offer sub-orbital flights but plan for deeper missions.
In January, Blue Origin’s larger New Glenn rocket flew a key test mission. The company aims to send people into orbit in future, rivalling Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
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