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Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Highlights: Katy Perry sang ‘What a Wonderful World’ during space flight
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Highlights: New Shepard's 11th human flight has landed back on Earth with its all-women crew, carrying Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, and Kerianne Flynn, into space.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Highlights: Blue Origin New Shepard mission NS-31, its 11th human flight, lifted off and landed back on earth at the landing spot in West Texas on Monday, April 14, with an all-women crew. The NS-31 crew included singer Katy Perry, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.
...Read MoreBlue Origin said that the New Shepard crew reached an altitude of more than 346,000 feet, with the mission in total taking just more than 10 minutes.
Blue Origin space company is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The spacecraft is named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space. New Shepard is Blue Origin's full reusable, suborbital rocket system built for human flight from the beginning. During the 11-minute journey, the crew of NS-31 soared past the Kármán line (100 km/62 miles), the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The Blue Origin NS-31 had no pilots and was fully autonomous. Its pressurized crew capsule had room for six people and is environmentally control for comport, having the largest windows to fly into space. Every astronaut on the plane had a window seat.
The ring and wedge fins of the spaceflight were aerodynamically designed to stabilize the booster and reduce fuel use on its way back to Earth.
All About Blue Origin NS-31
- The New Shepard's development flight test program concluded in 2021 after the completion of 16 consecutive successful flight tests. This also included three successful capsule tests, which demonstrated that the crew escape system can activate safely at any point of the flight.
- NS system has been made for operational reusability and minimal maintenance between flights to bring down the cost of access to space as well reduce waste. Nearly 99 per cent of the New Shepard's dry mass is reused, including the booster, capsule, ring fin, engine, landing gear, and parachutes.
- New Shepard's BE-3PM engine is fueled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen. The only by product of NS' engine combustion during the flight is water vapor with zero carbon emissions.
- The payload flights of New Shepard also supports a wide range of research, education, and technology development. Its human-interactive payloads extend the laboratory of space for real-world flight operations by adding skilled hands on board.
Updates to this live blog end here
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Lauren Sanchez responds to criticism of space flight
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos' fiancée, stated that she wished those who were criticising the mission could see the work at Blue Origin.
She also said that there were multiple people who had worked behind the scenes and put their hearts and souls into advancing science.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: 'Not just a ride, it was a journey,' says Katy Perry
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Katy Perry, after returning from space, said that the flight helped her feeling a sense of belonging. She also said that it was not about the destination, but the journey which allowed her to appreciate life much more.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘Felt calm during the process,’ says Gayle King
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Gayle King, who returned back to Earth after an 11 minute space flight aboard the NS-31, said that while she had been afraid and did not ever dream about being an astronaut, she overcame her fears and was calm while landing.
Addressing those who criticised the flight said, “This was not just a ride, it was a flight. I will not let you take away my joy.”
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: 'Showed me how much love there is to give' says Katy Perry
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: In an interview after she landed back on Earth from space, Katy Perry shared that the experience had made her realise how much love she had to give, and how loved they all were.
She also said that this was the most special experience for her, only second to motherhood.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Katy Perry kisses the Earth after returning from space
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: The popstar who is now officially an astronaut and one of the few women to go to space, kissed the Earth after she landed in the NS-31 Blue Origin capsule.
She also teared up about the journey and said it was one of the most beautiful experiences ever.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Blue Origin CEO praises crew
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Blue Origin's CEO Dave Limp, praised the all-women crew on board the NS-31 today on X.
“What an amazing crew!” he wrote. “Great flight this morning.”
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Aisha Bowe, Gayle King say sisterhood was formed with crew members
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Gayle King said that she had formed a sisterhood with her crew members onboard the NS-31 flight.
Aisha Bowe added, "You could just feel the energy in the capsule. And when we got up there and we got out of our seats, we all just looked at each other. There was this moment — and I can't wait for people to see it on the video — but there was a very special moment between all of us. And it's just beautiful."
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Kardashians watched launch, teased if they could be on next space flight
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Reality TV stars Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner observed the launch of the NS-32 with its all female crew and were in awe.
They said that it was a great moment to teach young girls like Khloe's daughter and Kris Jenner's grand daughter that anything was possible.
When asked if they would be next to fly, Khloe said today’s flight “made it a little more enticing.”
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: NS-31 reached 346,000 feet in 11 minute flight
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Blue Origin said that the New Shepard crew reached an altitude of more than 346,000 feet, with the mission in total taking just more than 10 minutes.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Katy Perry carried this symbol for her daughter in space
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Katy Perry stated after the space flight she undertook with five other women that the experience in space was only second to the experience of being a mother.
She also carried a daisy flower into space, in honour of her daughter Daisy.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘No borders, no boundaries,’ says Aisha Bowe
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Aisha Bowe, said that she had picked the right dream, because she always wanted to go to space, and her space flight in the NS-31 rocket was a dream come true.
She also said, there were no borders or boundaries, just Earth, which made her feel special about the trip.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Katy Perry sang ‘What a Wonderful World’ during flight says Gayle King
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Katy Perry, who just finished an 11 minute space flight, reportedly sang the song ‘What a Wonderful World,’ in space according to Gayle King.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: How Gayle King went to space despite having a fear of flying?
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Gayle King, who just went to space, said that her flight instructor said she was the best success story as she had never seen someone go to space who was afraid of flying.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘The moon felt like a special gift just for me,’ Kerianne Flynn on space
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Kerianne Flynn, one of the six women who just landed back on Earth from an 11-minute flight in space, said, “This moon was so beautiful in the vast darkness. It felt like a special gift just for me.”
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘No dream is too wild,’ says Amanda Nguyen
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Amanda Nguyen was in tears of joy after coming back from her space flight. She stated that she wanted this to inspire survivors that no dream is too wild.
She also thanked all engineers, scientists and teams that worked on making this possible.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘We’re all in this together' says Lauren Sanchez after flight
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos' fiancée, said that she wanted to hug everyone after going to space.
“I realised we are all in this together. These states, these places, that divide us are so small,” she said.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Jeff Bezos on site to meet Lauren Sanchez, crew after space flight
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin was waiting on the landing site of the flight capsule to meet Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry and the rest of the crew after the historic space flight.
The friends and families of other crew members also arrived to meet the astronauts.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘Oh My Goddess’ screams Katy Perry in space
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘Oh My Goddess’ screamed Katy Perry in space as she returned back to Earth from an 11 minute space flight with five other women, including Lauren Sanchez who is Jeff Bezos' fiancée.
The women landed after deploying parachutes and floating down to West Texas.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Parachutes deployed, all-women crew returns to Earth
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: After achieving a historic flight, the all-women crew of the NS-31 have returned back to Earth after deploying their parachutes.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Capsule detaches from booster, critical milestones passed
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Rocket takes off with all-women crew
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Rocket takes off with all-women crew
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: The NS 31 rocket takes off with its all-women crew.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Rocket to launch in 2 minutes
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: The NS-31 rocket is set to launch in 2 minutes with its all female crew.
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: ‘Godspeed! I love all of you’ Jeff Bezos' support before liftoff
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: As the crew of the NS-31 buckled in, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, sent a supportive message to the team.
He said, “I'm so excited for you. I want to go with you. I can't wait to hear what you have to say when you're back. I love all of you. Godspeed!”
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: Crew enters NS-31 capsule with 30 mins to launch
Blue Origin NS-31 Launch Live: The six crew members of the New Shepard 31 mission are buckled in and ready, with half an hour to go until they are launched into space.
