Advertisement
Katy Perry is gearing up for a major milestone—not on stage, but in space. The pop star will be joining journalist Gayle King and Lauren Sánchez (Jeff Bezos’ fiancée) on a Blue Origin flight set to launch Monday. The mission is part of Blue Origin’s ongoing push to make space tourism a real and growing industry.
In a recent interview with Elle, Perry shared that she’s dreamed of going to space for two decades. Her motivation? Bringing some “glam” to space travel while also fueling her long-standing passion for science. She said she’s always been fascinated by things like astrophysics, astronomy, and even astrology—and now she wants to turn that interest into inspiration for young girls. Speaking with the Associated Press, she said she hopes her journey encourages girls to say, “I’ll go to space in the future.”
The flight is meant to be symbolic as well as historic. With only about 11% of space travelers being women, the crew hopes to help close that gender gap and spotlight careers in space science for women.
The mission itself will be short—just 11 minutes total. The spacecraft will shoot 62 miles above Earth, crossing the Kármán Line (the internationally recognized boundary of space). During the ride, passengers will experience a few minutes of weightlessness. Notably, there will be no pilot on board; the flight is fully automated.
Public reaction has been mixed. Actress Olivia Munn criticized the journey during an appearance on the Today Show, calling the expensive mission “gluttonous,” especially given how many people still struggle with basic needs here on Earth.
Still, the launch is moving forward, with the crew set to lift off Monday morning.