Katy Perry has taken last-minute astronaut lessons ahead of today’s all-female rocket to space.
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Earlier this year, it was announced that aerospace company Blue Origin – which was founded by Jeff Bezos – had scheduled an all-women mission for a spring launch. It includes the likes of former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn set to join Perry, Gayle King, and Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez.
The journey will be the 11th human flight for the Bezos-owned rocket company’s New Shepard program, with lift off set for around 8:30am CDT/1:30pm GMT today (April 14).
Following the initial announcement, Perry said of the mission: “Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child. Although we didn’t grow up with much, I never stopped looking at the world with hopeful WONDER! I work hard to live my life that way still, and I am motivated more than ever to be an example for my daughter that women should take up space (pun intended).”
“That’s why this opportunity is so incredible — so that I can show all of the youngest & most vulnerable among us to reach for the stars, literally and figuratively,” she added. “I am honoured to be among this diverse group of celestial sisters.”
During her final Texan space training sessions this week, she told fans there was “a lot to digest”, showing the them capsule and adding that she’d noticed two coincidences linked to nicknames from her mother.
“When I was invited to come on this voyage, I looked up the capsule,” she explained. “On the very front of it is the outline in the shape of a feather and when I saw that it was like a total confirmation because my mum has always called me feather.”
“So, I’m in space training today and there’s a lot to digest,” she continued. “We’re almost finished with the day and they showed us the capsule and we run simulations in another capsule and tested the noise and what to expect and all these different things and they reveal the capsule name.
“The capsule’s name is Tortoise. A wave, just the most energetic wave, just shot through my body. And I was like ‘What? This capsule’s name is Tortoise?’ My mom calls me two nicknames – Feather and Tortoise. What are the chances that I’m going to space on a rocket in a capsule with my symbol, the feather, called Tortoise?”
While Perry has been enthusiastic, the proposed visit to space did spark some backlash – including criticism from actor Olivia Munn. While co-hosting a recent episode of Today With Jenna & Friends, the X-Men Apocalypse star spoke about the upcoming trip and labelled it “gluttonous”.
“What are they doing? I know this probably isn’t the cool thing to say, but there are so many other things that are so important in the world right now,” she said (via Billboard). “I know this is probably obnoxious, but like, it’s so much money to go to space, and there are a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs.”
“What’s the point? Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it’s a bit gluttonous,” she continued. “Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they gonna do up there that has made it better for us down here?”
The upcoming mission will be the first all-female space flight since Valentina Tereshkova embarked on a solo flight and became the first woman in space in 1963.
