Countdown underway for rocket launch of star-studded all-female crew
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin began offering private rides to space in 2021. Blue Origin's New Shepard rockets launch from the facility outside of Van Horn, Texas, and operate without a pilot onboard. Once in space, the crew capsule parachutes back to Earth a few minutes later.
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VAN HORN, Texas – The countdown is underway for the launch of a star-studded, all-female crew aboard a Blue Origin rocket from West Texas.
According to Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, if all goes as planned, liftoff of the New Shepard rocket -designated NS-31 - will take place around 8:30 a.m. CDT on Monday.
On board will be a high-profile crew of six, ranging from pop superstar Katy Perry to Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez.
The all-female crew consists of:
- Aisha Bowe: A former NASA rocket scientist and CEO of STEMBoard
- Amanda Nguyễn: A bioastronautics research scientist and advocate for sexual violence survivors
- Gayle King: An award-winning journalist and co-host of CBS Mornings
- Katy Perry: A global pop superstar and a best-selling female artist
- Kerianne Flynn: A community filmmaker
- Lauren Sánchez: A bestselling author and fiancée to Jeff Bezos
Blue Origin NS-31 crew
(FOX Weather)
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Unlike trips to the International Space Station, which can last weeks or even months, the NS-31 flight will be brief, with a total duration of around 11 minutes.
Blue Origin says less than 3 minutes into launch the booster will separate from the New Shepard capsule, which will continue on its space odyssey.
The capsule will reach an altitude of approximately 62 miles above Earth’s surface, where the crew will experience several minutes of weightlessness and take in breathtaking views of the planet.
The capsule is said to feature windows measuring 2.4 feet wide by 3.6 feet tall, designed to provide unobstructed views while in space.
After reaching its peak altitude, the capsule will descend back to Earth, deploying parachutes to slow its return before landing near the launch site in rural West Texas.
According to Blue Origin, the crew capsule uses reverse thrusters and parachutes to land at a speed of just 1 mile per hour.
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Image 1 of 4Blue Origin launch diagram (Blue Origin)
![Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts-off from the launch pad on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas.]()
Image 2 of 4Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts-off from the launch pad on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas. (Joe Raedle)
![Blue Origin NS-20 mission launch 3/31/22]()
Image 3 of 4A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches from Launch Site One in West Texas north of Van Horn on March 31, 2022. - The NS-20 mission carries Blue Origins New Shepard Chief Architect Gary Lai, Marty Allen, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen, and Dr. George Nield into space. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
![Blue Origin NS-20 mission 3/31/22]()
Image 4 of 4A Blue Origin New Shepard crew capsule deploys its parachutes as it lands at in West Texas north of Van Horn on March 31, 2022. - The NS-20 mission carried Blue Origins New Shepard Chief Architect Gary Lai, Marty Allen, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen, and Dr. George Nield into space. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Previous notable passengers on Blue Origin flights have included Jeff Bezos, actor William Shatner and former NFL player and broadcaster Michael Strahan.
While Blue Origin has not publicly disclosed the ticket prices, they are estimated to range from zero dollars - when gifted to public figures - to as much as $30 million, according to a 2021 auction.
Watch live coverage of the trailblazing mission after liftoff on YouTube.
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