Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry and Gayle King have joined forces with the rest of their historic all-female Blue Origin space crew for ELLE.
The team, which comprises former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, 38, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyễn, 33, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, came together physically for the first time to feature on a special April digital cover for the magazine.
Until this point the ladies had only ever been together as a group via video calls as they prepare for their trip to space on April 14.
Lauren, 55, enthusiastically expressed, ‘All of these women are storytellers in their own right.’ She also added, ‘They’re going to venture into space and have the opportunity to convey their experiences in unique ways.’
The group expressed their excitement about being the first individuals to venture into space with their hair and makeup elegantly done, a fact highlighted by interviewer Sylvia Obell.
Katy, 40, boasted: ‘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 “a**” in astronaut.’
Former NASA staffer Aisha noted she even took steps to check her looks will remain in tact as she noted: ‘I also wanted to test out my hair and make sure that it was okay. So I skydived in Dubai with similar hair to make sure I would be good—took it for a dry run.’
Activist Amanda added: ‘I think it’s so important for people to see us like that. This dichotomy of engineer and scientist, and then beauty and fashion.
Lauren Sánchez, Katy Perry and Gayle King have joined forces with the rest of their historic all-female Blue Origin space crew for ELLE
Until this point the ladies had only ever been together as a group via video calls as they prepare for their trip to space on April 14
‘We contain multitudes. Women are multitudes. I’m going to be wearing lipstick.’
Meanwhile, Katy teased the fact she might test out her vocals at a new level when Lauren suggested that she should ‘sing up there’.
Filmmaker Kerianne noted, ‘You’d be the first [music artist] in space to sing,’ to which Katy replied: ‘I feel like I should.’
Opening up about their initial reactions to the space flight invite, Katy joked: ‘I was like, What am I going to wear? But seriously, I have wanted to go to space for almost 20 years. I was investigating all of the possible commercial options.
‘Even when Blue Origin was first talking about commercial travel to space, I was like, “Sign me up! I’m first in line.” And then they called me, and I was like, “Really? I get an invite?”‘
She continued: ‘And I really felt very sure when they sent me the picture of the space pod, because on the front of the pod is a feather, and that’s my mom’s nickname for me.’
Meanwhile Gayle admitted she had a different reaction as she noted: ‘I’m probably the only one at the table who wasn’t saying, “Put me in, coach.”
‘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.’
Katy teased the fact she might test out her vocals at a new level when Lauren suggested that she should ‘sing up there’
TV anchor Gayle King admitted she had the most nerves about the upcoming flight
She explained: ‘I haven’t felt like this since childbirth, really. Because I knew childbirth was going to hurt. But it’s also stepping out of your comfort zone.’
Aisha admitted: ‘I wanted to go to space, but I didn’t think it was possible. I was afraid to do it.
‘I was afraid to even dream about it. And so when I got the call, I realized that it wasn’t “No” back then — it was “Not right now,” and now is the time.’
Meanwhile Amanda noted, ‘It’s a dream come true, and for me it was a dream deferred.’
She explained: ‘I worked at NASA, I studied the stars — astrophysics at Harvard and MIT — but life got in the way.
‘Gender-based violence is a big reason why so many women in STEM don’t continue on with their training, and I was one of those women.
‘After I was sexually assaulted, I traded my telescope to fight for my rights as a sexual assault survivor.
‘I drafted the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, passed it in Congress and at the United Nations.
Until this point the ladies had only ever been together as a group via video calls as they prepare for their trip to space on April 14 – Kerianne Flynn and Aisha Bowe pictured
Amanda Nguyen shared her pride at the fact this will be the ‘first time anybody went to space with their hair and makeup done’ as pointed out by the interviewer
‘And then, after 10 years, I was like, I want to honor the person that I was before I was hurt.’
Kerianne gushed: ‘I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time. I grew up in a small town in Michigan, and I always looked up at the stars with my grandfather.
‘I can’t wait to touch down on Earth and share what we bring back with the world.’
Blue Origin Flight NS-31 is the first crew made up solely of women since Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo space flight in 1963.
It will also be among the most diverse set of women to ever go to space all at once.
The entire trip is expected to last 11 minutes, and the women will be going up in a rocket that flies itself, allowing each of them to enjoy the flight as passengers.
Once they reach space, they’ll be able to float around the rocket for about four minutes before coming back down to Earth.
Elsewhere, Blue Origin recently revealed the NS-31 mission patch and some of the key symbols embedded have particularly special meanings.
The NS-31 flight will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas. The New Shepard launch window opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC
The fireworks ‘symbolize Katy’s global influence across music, pop culture, and philanthropy,’ a statement read.
Flynn the Fly, the main character in Lauren’s bestselling children’s book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, is along for the ride. The story is about overcoming adversity, inspiring kids with learning differences to pursue their dreams.
The scales of justice symbolizes Amanda’s efforts to advocate for civil rights, break barriers, and empower everyday people to create change.
The target star symbolizes Aisha’s ambition for setting big goals, passion for STEM, and commitment to inspiring future generations.
The shooting star microphone represents Gayle’s commitment to sharing important stories with the world.
The film reel symbolizes Kerianne’s passion for filmmaking, storytelling, and crafting beautiful narratives.
The NS-31 flight will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas. The New Shepard launch window opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC.
