Blue Origin is preparing to make its own bit of history on its next launch. An all-female crew will take this exhilarating 11-minute ride to the final frontier! The mission is scheduled to lift off from the company’s burgeoning Texas facility. This is an unprecedented achievement for the burgeoning space industry and improves gender representation in the aerospace ecosystem. The ambitious flight will be a direct challenge to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Most importantly, it will showcase the astounding capabilities of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
Our crew is all women, a rare feat, including the fabulous Amanda Nguyen, CEO of Rise. As an environmental and civil rights activist, she will become the first Vietnamese woman to go into space. Come along with co-host of CBS Mornings Gayle King. They’re accompanied by the likes of pop star Katy Perry, film producer Kerianne Flynn and entrepreneur and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. Lauren Sánchez, a brilliant journalist and philanthropist, rounds out the crew. Her involvement makes more tangible the mission’s commitment to female empowerment in a blue-collar, male-dominated industry.
The static launch will be hosted at Blue Origin’s new orbital capacity facility, about 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. This mission adds to Blue Origin’s incredible string of successes. To date, the company has flown its New Shepard vehicle 31 successful flights with 11 of those being crewed suborbital flights. The flight will transport the crew on a short but exciting journey to the edge of space and back.
With anticipation growing for this landmark mission, the crew shared their enthusiasm for the adventure that awaits them.
“We’re a crew!” – reportedly shouted in unison by the all-female crew.
Perry provided a bit of star-studded levity, reminding everyone that the mission was indeed a pretty glamorous one.
“Space is going to finally be glam. Let me tell you something. If I could take glam up with me, I would do that. We are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut.” – Katy Perry
Gayle King thought about how to get her feelings about the flight across, and ended up being refreshingly open about her fear and excitement.
“I had a lot of trepidation – I still do – but I also know it’s very interesting to be terrified and excited at the same time. I haven’t felt like this since childbirth. Because I knew childbirth was going to hurt. But it’s also stepping out of your comfort zone.” – Gayle King
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket represents a different kind of progress in the aerospace sector. It particularly underscores the company’s commitment to diversifying American space exploration. The company has positioned itself as a key player against SpaceX, which currently builds and launches two rockets: the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.
The importance of this mission goes well beyond the excitement of space travel. This is an important step forward towards making the aerospace industry more inclusive. It breaks down antiquated stereotypes and opens the door for future generations of women to succeed in science and technology. It is truly a privilege to have Amanda Nguyen join us, serving as an inspiration and bright light for underrepresented communities, reaffirming that space belongs to all of us.
The cutthroat competitive dynamic that has developed between Blue Origin and SpaceX has led to public arguments about monopolization in the burgeoning space industry. According to many industry insiders, the deregulation Disney and Elon Musk are chasing raises fears of monopolistic market control.
“Elon wants a monopoly in space.” – argued by a person familiar with Blue Origin’s Washington strategy.
Safety requirements and standards for commercial space tourism are bringing new fears to the surface. This is particularly important as additional businesses are attracted to this emerging market.
“People are concerned what’s in place to stop it.” – said by a space industry lobbyist.
Though it’s not all smooth sailing, Blue Origin is undeterred in its efforts to democratize access to space. In addition, Blue Origin began launching its New Glenn rocket into outer space earlier this year from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This rocket is now named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.