Katy Perry’s Astronaut Training
Katy Perry decided to take astronaut lessons at the last moment on the eve of today’s rocket launch, which will send several women into space.
Blue Origin’s Historic Mission
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, was planning an all-female mission for a spring launch. Joining Perry on this mission are notable figures like former NASA Rocket Engineering scientist Aisha Bow, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, along with Gail King and Loren Sanchez.
This journey marks the 11th flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, set to launch at approximately 8:30 AM CDT / 1:30 PM GMT today (April 14).
Following the initial announcement, Perry remarked, “Nothing was ever behind my imagination in childhood. Even though I didn’t grow up with much, I never stopped viewing the world with a sense of awe!”
“I strive to live like that, motivated now more than ever to be an example for my daughter, proving that women should take up space (pun intended).”
“That’s why this opportunity is so incredible,” she remarked. “I can demonstrate to the youngest and most vulnerable among us that it’s possible to reach for the stars—both literally and figuratively. It’s a tremendous honor to be part of this diverse group of celestial sisters.”
During her recent training in Texas, she mentioned to fans that there was “a lot to digest” and highlighted two coincidental connections with the nicknames given to her by her mother.
“When I was invited on this mission, I looked at the capsule,” she explained. “There is a pen-like shape in the front row, and seeing that felt like a complete confirmation because my mother always called me ‘Feathers’.”
“So, today I’m training and there’s a lot to absorb,” she continued. “As our day wraps up, they showed us a capsule, we conducted launch simulations, and we were made aware of the noise and what to expect. Then, they revealed the name of the capsule.”
“The capsule is named ‘Turtle’. A wave of energy shot through my body. I exclaimed: ‘What? Is this capsule actually called a Turtle?’. My mother used to call me by two nicknames—’Feathers’ and ‘Turtle’.”
While Perry was thrilled about her journey, the upcoming space mission attracted some criticism, including from actress Olivia Munn. During a recent episode of Today with Jenna and Friends, the X-Men Apocalypse star referred to the trip as “gluttonous.”
“What are they doing? I know it’s probably not cool, but there are so many other pressing issues in the world,” she stated (via Billboard). “It’s a lot of money to go into space when there are people who can’t even afford eggs.”
“What’s the point? It’s historical, but what are you guys really going to do? I think it’s a little impractical,” she continued. “The exploration was meant to expand our knowledge and assist humanity. What will they accomplish there that benefits us here?”
This mission will be the first space flight entirely composed of women, following Valentina Tereshkova’s solo journey that made her the first woman in space back in 1963.
In other news, Katy Perry plans to embark on her own life tour at the end of this year, marking her first tour in seven years.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/katy-perry-takes-last-minute-astronaut-lessons-ahead-of-todays-all-female-rocket-to-space-3854687?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=katy-perry-takes-last-minute-astronaut-lessons-ahead-of-todays-all-female-rocket-to-space
