Katy Perry is set to make history as part of Blue Origin’s first all-female crewed spaceflight, but she’s also determined to take glamour to new heights—literally. The 40-year-old pop sensation will board the New Shepard rocket on April 14 alongside an elite group of accomplished women, and they all have one thing in common: they plan to make space travel chic.
An elite all-female crew
Joining Perry on the groundbreaking mission are Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; CBS News anchor Gayle King; former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe; civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen; and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
Speaking to Elle, the women revealed their plans to keep their hair, makeup, and fashion on point, even as they embark on an experience that only a select few have had before.
“Space is going to finally be glam,” Perry declared, adding with a laugh, “We are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut.”
Beauty meets brains: A new kind of spaceflight
While some might scoff at the idea of prioritizing style in space, the crew sees it as a statement of empowerment. Nguyen, who studied astrophysics at Harvard, is adamant about showcasing the duality of women in STEM.
“I think it’s so important for people to see us like that,” she said. “This dichotomy of engineer and scientist and then beauty and fashion. We contain multitudes. Women are multitudes.”
Bowe, an aerospace engineer, is even conducting test runs to see if her makeup and hair will withstand the rocket launch. Meanwhile, King expressed concerns about her lash extensions, to which Sánchez assured her, “Mine are glued on. They’re good.”
Special mementos and a musical send-off
Each crew member is bringing a personal item for the journey. Bowe will carry an Apollo 12 mission flag, King is bringing music, and Sánchez plans to take a stuffed animal from her children’s book The Fly Who Flew to Space.
As for Perry, fans can expect a celestial serenade. The singer hinted that she’ll be performing during the mission, making this a truly unforgettable moment in space exploration.
Beyond the glamour, the women will also conduct scientific experiments during their 11-minute trip beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The mission marks the 31st launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and its 11th human flight, ushering in a new era where space travel is both groundbreaking and glamorous.
With Perry and her powerhouse team on board, this mission is poised to be one of the most stylish—and significant—trips to space yet.