Pop icon Katy Perry recently joined five other trailblazing women on a short trip to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos.
This marked the first all-female spaceflight in over 60 years. Alongside Perry were Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sanchez, CBS host Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, scientist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
Their mission took them more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) above Earth, crossing the Karman line — the internationally recognized boundary of space. The flight, launched from West Texas at 9:31 am ET, lasted about 11 minutes. During the brief voyage aboard the New Shepard spacecraft, passengers experienced a few moments of weightlessness before returning to Earth.
Who can fly with Blue Origin?
Technically, anyone aged 18 or above can apply for a Blue Origin space flight. The company has a reservation page where applicants submit personal details and a short description of themselves. However, beyond eligibility, one must also have the financial means — and sometimes the right connections.
What does a space tour cost?
Blue Origin doesn’t officially reveal ticket prices for its civilian spaceflights, but some clues offer insight. The company's website states that a fully refundable deposit of $1,50,000 is needed to begin the order process. Back in 2021, the company auctioned a seat on its debut crewed flight for $28 million.
Competitors like Virgin Galactic have charged anywhere from $2,00,000 to $4,50,000 per seat, depending on the timing and demand.
Do all passengers pay?
Not necessarily. Celebrities and public figures, such as Star Trek actor William Shatner and TV host Michael Strahan, reportedly flew for free as Blue Origin’s invited guests. According to space travel concierge firm SpaceVIP, factors like social capital and alignment with Blue Origin’s mission can influence selection.
“It’s not about money; it’s about who you are,” said SpaceVIP co-founder Roman Chiporukha.
Even on the April 14 all-women flight, CNN reported that “some passengers” didn’t pay for their seats, though Blue Origin hasn’t specified who received complimentary trips.
Courtesy: NDTV World
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