NATIONAL NEWS – Blue Origin launches all-female celebrity crew, Gayle King, Katy Perry into space

Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company launched his fiance Lauren Sanchez into space as part of an all-female space crew with other celebrities, such as Katy Perry and Gayle King. This is the latest news in the area of space tourism, which is becoming increasingly popular among the upper class. Those who are rich and famous, or lucky and well-connected are able to go on space flights, as the new frontier of travel.

The New Shepard rocket went on a quick trip into space in West Texas on Monday. Sanchez, a former helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, invited the others along for the 10-minute, fully automated flight. Pop star Katy Perry said that she was moved by the views of the Earth from Space and said that she sang “What a Wonderful World” in space. This was Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight, which was founded in 2000. The celebrity launch was the nation’s first space flight with an exclusive women crew since 1963. After this launch, women represented 15% of the over 700 people who had launched into space. Sanchez said that she chose women who were close to her and were eager to inspire everyone to dream big.