Pop star Katy Perry has sung in space after blasting off aboard Amazon owner Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. She held hands with the rest of the female crew and prayed ahead of lift off, with one yelling “look at the moon!” in excitement during the flight itself.
The group screamed with joy throughout their journey after they launched into space at 9.30am eastern time – 2.30pm UK time – from Blue Origin’s launch site in Van Horn, Texas, and on landing minutes later. But there was also a poignant moment on board as Perry sang “What A Wonderful World.” Speaking after landing, Perry, 40, said she felt “connected to love” and described herself as the “crier of the group”.
She went on: “I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you, like how much love you have to give, and how loved you are until the day you launch.”
As well as the pop sensation, the first all-female commercial space flight had on board Lauren Sánchez, Bezos’ wife-to-be, and four other women. Bezos, who himself has been into space, told his wife-to-be and the crew ahead of the flight: “I’m so excited for you, I don’t wanna get off, I wanna go with you. And when you get back, I can’t wait to hear how it’s changed you. I love all of you, see you soon, godspeed.” Gayle King, co-host of ‘CBS Mornings’, Amanda Nguyen, a bioastronautics research scientist, and Kerianne Flynn, a movie producer, joined the 11 minute flight to the edge of space and back.
Full prices for the space flights are kept private but it costs a $150,000 (£114,575.85) deposit just to reserve a seat.
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Katy Perry has revealed she ‘peed in her pants’ after being blasted into space on the Blue Origin mission.
Katy was heard screaming: “Omg guys I peed my pants” as the Blue Origin was on its way back to Earth.
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Some of the passengers on today’s flight are understood to have paid for the journey – while others enjoyed it for free.
A spokesman for Blue Origin confirmed to CNN some paid their way but refused to say who.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shared a sweet post as he highlighted the all female crew from the Blue Origin New Shepard flight.
The businessman gushed over his wife Lauren Sánchez and the rest of the team which included singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King.
He posted on X: “I love this crew”
Lauren Sánchez inspired kids to dream about space weeks before her own lift off after she published a children’s book.
The author and journalist beautifully wrote about “the joy of learning, and dreaming beyond the stars” in her piece called: The Fly Who Flew to Space.
The main character is a fly called Flynn who gets on a rocket ship and becomes an astronaut.
She earlier spoke about her book and said: “I still can’t believe it!!! I’m so so excited to share the cover of my first children’s book, “The Fly Who Flew To Space”. I’m beyond grateful b/c this story holds a piece of my heart. It’s a celebration of overcoming challenges, the joy of learning, and dreaming beyond the stars. And I’m so thankful to @RaleighStewart for his amazing illustrations, they are pure magic.”
Speaking after touching back down to Earth, the pop princess said “for sure, 100%” she will be writing a song about her experience which she described as the “highest high”.
Discussing the lift off and landing, she said it was to “surrender to the unknown” and “trust”. Adding: “This whole journey is not just about going into space. It’s the training, it’s the team, it’s the whole thing. I couldn’t recommend this experience more. This is like up there with all the different tools I’ve learned over my life… this is up there because what you’re doing is really finding the love for yourself because you’ve got to trust yourself in this journey. And then you feel the love when you come down for sure, and you’re feeling the strength. So I’m really feeling that for fure, strong, divine, feminine right now.”
“This experience is second to being a mum… and that’s why it was hard for me to go, because that’s all my love right there,” Perry explained. “And I have to surrender and trust that the universe is going to take care of me and protect me and also my family and my daughter because I am full up from being able to get that gift of being a mum and to go to space is incredible and I wanted to model courage and worthiness and fearlessness.”
Asked about her reason for choosing the Louis Armstrong classic ‘What a Wonderful World’, Katy Perry explained: “I’ve covered that song in the past and, obviously my higher self is always steering the ship, because I had no clue that once day I would decide to sing a little bit of that in space. But I think that it’s not about me, it’s not about singing my songs.
“It’s about a collective energy in there, it’s about us, it’s about making space for future women and taking up space and belonging and it’s about this wonderful world that we see right out there, and appreciating it. This is all for the benefit of Earth.”
“Daisies are common flowers, but they grow through any condition,” explained Katy Perry, whose daighter is also named Daisy. “They grow through cement, they grow through cracks, they grow through walls, they are resilient, they are powerful, they are strong, they are everywhere.
“Flowers, to me, are God’s smile, but it’s also a reminder of our beautiful Earth and the flowers here and God’s smile and the beautiful magic that is everywhere, all around us, and even in a simply daisy. So to really appreciate it, and remember it and protect it.”
Katy Perry revealed she feels “connected to love” after returning from her space flight. She described herself as the “crier of the group”.
“I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you, like how much love you have to give, and how loved you are until the day you launch,” she said.
Amanda Nguyen, a fierce advocate for sexual violence survivors brought a poignant zero G indicator with her – her hospital band from her own sexual assault. Breaking down in tears, she explained that she also took a written promise to herself that reads “Never, never give up”.
“I cannot believe it”, Gayle King said excitedly bouncing after her experience. “I still can’t accept that word [astronaut] but I will say I can’t even explain what I saw… this was not a ride, this was a bonafide flight… I’m so proud of me right now, I can’t believe it.”
Describing her space experience she said it was “oddly quiet” and “peaceful”. The tv host said it was “a reminder that we need to do better and be better”.
She also confirmed that Katy Perry did in fact sing in space, saying: “The best part was when we got back in our seats after zero Gs, Katy sang What A Wonderful World.” She said she’d been asked to sing Roar or Firework “all the time”, but Gayle said the pop star said “it’s not about me, it’s about the world.”
Lauren Sánchez appeared to become overwhlemed with emotion as she spoke of her experience. She said: “All the love that was in that capsule and all the heart and the feelings and all the things and seeing Jeff before I left I just went ‘pfft’. I had to come back, we’re getting married if I didn’t come back that would be a bummer for me.”
Gayle King also kissed the ground saying “let me appreciate the ground for just a second”. It was especially poignant for the CBS co-host, who was revealed as having a fear of flying by long-time friend Oprah earlier. As she stepped off, Bezos told her “I’m so proud of you”.
Gayle “doesn’t even have ear piercings” as she too scared, Sánchez revealed as she spoke for the first time since her out of this world experience.
Jeff Bezos has been seen standing outside the capsule looking through one of the windows as the crew prepare to disembark, including his fiancée Lauren Sánchez, who is in seat 1 on the craft. The capsule’s giant windows are unique, with Blue Origin saying owner Jeff Bezos wanted those on board to have the best views.
The Amazon founder opened the hatch saying “come on out guys” before opening his arms wide for fiancée Lauren Sánchez and telling her “go see your babies.”
Katy perry stepped out the aircraft, holding a daisy to the sky in honour of her daughter before skipping down the steps and kissing the ground.
Teams have raced to the site where the capsule touched down in a puff of smoke to get the crew out of the craft. Friends and family are said to be arriving at the site to be there for when their loved ones get out of the capsule after their life-changing experience.
Oprah Winfrey was seen looking emotional as her long-time friend Gayle King made her way into space as part of the historic Blue Origin mission.
Delighted screams could be heard on board the Blue Origin capsule as Katy Perry and the rest of the crew made their way back down to Earth – like those heard in a theme park. Huge blue and red parachutes expanded behind the space capsule as the capsule began its descent, to help slow its landing, with it expected to land North-East of the launch pad.
It means Katy Perry and the other five women have been the first all-female crew to travel to space in 60 years and the first ever commercial crew.
Fins have popped out on the rocket to stabilise it as it comes into land, having allowed those on board four incredible minutes of zero gravity. The rocket is expected to land around two miles north from where it launched from Blue Origin’s Texas base.
A huge cloud of steam and smoke was seen billowing out as the booster touched down. The capsule is expected to drift down to Earth more gently with parachutes helping slow the descent.
“Look at the moon,” one of those on board was heard saying, as others responded with “oh my goodness” as they approached their highest point of the flight.
The spacecraft is set to pass ‘mach 3’ – three times the speed of sound as it makes its journey into space. The capsule is being separated from the booster rocket, at which point those on board can unbuckle and begin to experience zero gravity. Screams of delight could be heard on the Blue Origin stream, likely from those on board the spacecraft.
Katy Perry and the all-female crew of the Blue Origin New Shepard flight have begun their flight into space. The rocket began its flight at 2.30pm UK time after all systems were cleared as ‘Go’. The vehicle accelerated, reaching ‘supersonic’ speeds as it headed toward the upper atmosphere.
Speaking in a pre-filmed interview with Blue Origin’s Tabitha Lipkin, Perry became emotional as she was sked to share a message for her family. She said: “My message for my family is that I love them so much… and I am so grateful to be representing a fearless female in my family which is a domino affect from my mum and my sister and definitely something I feel for my daughter.”
She added that she has told her four-year-old daughter, Daisy, that she is going into space. She explained: “It is very normal for us to talk about mummy going to space now and I will be so excited to hold her when I land.”
In a touching nod to her daughter, she planned to bring a daisy flower to the camp “to remind us that the Earth is very precious.”
Oprah Winfrey sported a yellow top to support friend Gayle King, who’s call sign is ‘Sunshine’. The pair have been friends since their early 20s, with Orpah saying she has “never been more proud” of her friend.
“I think, for her, any time we’re on a flight, she’s on anybod’s lap if there’s the slightest bit of tubulance, she has real anxiety flying, this is overcoming a wall of fear, a barrier and I think it’s going to be cathartic in many ways,” Oprah said. Explaining why she encouraged her friend to take part, she said: “I think life is about continuing to frow into the best of yourself and the fullest expression of yourself and I think this is one of the most fullest expressions you can really have.”
She added:.” And I know she’d regret it and I didn’t want to hear about it for the next 15 years.” She said “none of us will ever forget this day” having been there for her friend for so many years.
As they lift off, those on board Blue Origin’s New Shepard will experience ‘3G’ as the rocket launches into the air, pushing them back into their seats and feeling “like a weighted blanket”. Once the capsule separates from the booster at the Kármán line they will experience weightlessness, with around four minutes of time out of their seats to enjoy the zero-gravity experience.
When they begin their descend, crossing back into the atmosphere, they can experience up to 5Gs as they go from weightlessness back to Earth’s gravitational pull. The capsule is due to float down at between 10 and 15mph with a parachute before gently touching back down in the Texas desert.
Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian were seen at the launch site to support their friend Lauren Sánchez, who organised the trip. World-famous ‘momager’ Kris said she was “so proud” of Sánchez and wanted to be there to see the “unique experience.”
“We’re here to support our girlfriend and our friends, and I never thought we’d be talking to you from a space launch for sure,” Kris said on the Blue Origin live stream of the launch.
Kim Kardashian was notably absent from the launch, with Kris explaining that she had to stay home to study for law school. Khloe added: “This is a day in history and it is so empowering. Dream big, wish for the stars and one day you could maybe be among them.”
Khloe added that she was given tips from Blue Origin staff for the launch viewing experience: “I love the messaging that we keep receiving from the staff here at Blue Origin is, don’t film it through your phones. Look through your eyes. Be as present as possible.”
Pop princess Katy Perry has been pictured ringing the iconic Blue Origin bell before heading into the capsule for her space flight. The crew appeared to take a moment to huddle together, holding hands in what looks like a locker room, before making their way to the capsule.
Amazon owner and Blue Origin’s founder Jeff Bezos gave his fiancée Lauren Sánchez a message before she and her fellow female crew headed into space about the “most amazing” and “most profound experience”.
Bezos, who himself has been into space, told his wife-to-be and the crew: “I’m so excited for you, I don’t wanna get off, i wanna go with you. And when you get back, I can’t wait to hear how it’s changed you. I love all of you, see you soon, godspeed.”
Katy Perry took to X to share a three-word message for fans ahead of her flight into space today. Writing on the platform, she said simply “I LOVE YOU”.
As the crew entered the capsule they rang a silver bell, a tradition to “let the stars know that we’ve got some people heading their way”, according to a member of Blue Origin’s staff. The bell hands below a quote from Alan Shepard, the astronaut the rocket is named after which reads: “Light this candle”.
The crew have been seen leaving Blue Origin’s astronaut training centre in West Texas as they made their way to the launch site. Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez and Kerianne Flynn posed for a quick photo together before getting into a car,w ith Aisha Bowe seen hanging out of a car window with pop princess Perry.
The pair waved to a small crowd gathered at a site before Amazon billionaire and Sánchez’s fiancé Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, began driving it away slowly.
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