Blue Origin rocket to launch 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.
Blue Origin to launch all-female crew from Texas on Monday
The countdown is on for the launch of a star-studded, all-female crew aboard a Blue Origin rocket from West Texas on Monday morning. FOX Business Correspondent Kelly Saberi has the latest from Van Horn, Texas, on April 14, 2025.
UPDATE: The Blue Shepard New Shepard Mission 31 launched on Monday, April 14. Click here to read about the mission.
EARLIER STORY:
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, the New Shepard rocket—designated NS-31—will lift off around 8:30 a.m. CDT on Monday.
A high-profile crew of six will be on board, including pop superstar Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos’s 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 journalist, bestselling author and fiancée to Jeff Bezos
Blue Origin NS-31 crew (FOX Weather)
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According to the FOX Forecast Center, Monday's forecast in Van Horn, Texas, looks favorable for liftoff with winds around 5 mph, a partly cloudy sky and temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s throughout the morning.
Blue Origin NS-31 launch forecast. (FOX Weather)
What will the NS-31 crew experience?
Unlike trips to the International Space Station, which can last weeks or even months, the NS-31 flight will be brief, lasting 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.
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.
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Inside look at Blue Origin's Wednesday flight to space
Get an inside look at Blue Origin's flight with William Shatner and others on Wednesday, Oct. 13.
Watch live coverage of the trailblazing mission after liftoff on YouTube.