How Katy Perry prepared for historic all-female spaceflight

Katy Perry listened to 'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan and read a book on string theory to prepare for the all-female Blue Origin spaceflight.
The pop star made the revelation at her Southern California rehearsal space last Wednesday, ahead of the mission with Jeff Bezos ' fiancee Lauren Sanchez, journalist Gayle King and three other women.
'I've always been interested in astrophysics and interested in astronomy and astrology and the stars. We are all made of stardust, and we all come from the stars,' she said.
'I am talking to myself every day and going, 'You're brave, you're bold, you are doing this for the next generation to inspire so many different people but especially young girls to go, 'I'll go to space in the future.' No limitations.'
Perry said she has been 'psychologically' preparing for the spaceflight by reading work from the late Sagan and other scientists.
'I'm really excited about the engineering of it all. I'm excited to learn more about STEM and just the math about what it takes to accomplish this type of thing,' she said.
An all-female spaceflight seems an apt endeavor for the 40-year-old Perry, whose collection of hits include songs about extraterrestrials ('E.T.') and fireworks shooting across the sky ('Firework'), as well as feminist anthems like her 2013 hit, 'Roar,' and 'WOMAN'S WORLD,' off her most recent album.
Perry said that whenever she is doing something new or daunting, she looks inward for strength and confidence.
'Using that feminine divine that I was born with and definitely unlocked when I had my daughter even more. It leveled up for sure. Being a mother just makes you level up with that type of power,' she said. Her daughter, Daisy, 4, joined Perry before her rehearsal.
Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin announced the crew in February.
Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, picked the women who will join her on a 10-minute spaceflight from West Texas aboard a New Shepard rocket. Perry, Sanchez and King will be joined by Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist who now heads an engineering firm, research scientist Amanda Nguyen and movie producer Kerianne Flynn.
'I am feeling so grateful and grounded and honored to be invited and included with this incredible group of women,' Perry said.
Whenever she gets nervous about the trip, she reminds herself how important it is.
Blue Origin has flown tourists on short hops to space since 2021, after Bezos climbed aboard with his brother for the inaugural trip; the upcoming trip will be the company's 11th human spaceflight. Some passengers have received free rides, while others have paid a hefty sum to experience weightlessness.
The company declined to comment on who is footing the bill for Monday's flight.
The news of the upcoming trip has not been without critiques, most recently from actor Olivia Munn, who bemoaned the mission's cost and publicity. But Perry believes an all-women crew — the first since Valentina Tereshkova's solo spaceflight in 1963 — has historic ramifications.
'It's an important moment for the future of commercial space travel and for humanity in general and for women all around,' she said, citing the fact that only about 11 per cent of the people who have gone to space have been women. 'I'm excited for that number to be even more equal after this flight. And I just feel like, 'Put us in coach.''

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mirror

3 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom 'planning make-or-break talks' amid split rumours

Deep Cover star Orlando Bloom and singer Katy Perry have faced split rumours in recent weeks, with there now yet more speculation about the couple's long-term relationship There are reportedly plans for Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom to have "make-or-break talks" in the coming weeks. It's claimed that there is hope that the couple can get through a "rough patch" amid them facing ongoing split rumours. Katy, 40, and Orlando, 48, who first met back in 2016, have been engaged since Valentine's Day in 2019. Earlier this month though, it was reported that the couple, who are parents to four-year-old Daisy together, had ended their five-year engagement. ‌ Speculation since then has included the suggestion that their relationship is "on the rocks". Katy fuelled rumours of a potential split from actor Orlando when the singer was reportedly seen without her engagement ring. ‌ It's now claimed that Katy and Orlando plan to reunite next week once she returns to the US from Australia, where she's currently on her Lifetimes tour. It's reported that they haven't split up but have experienced a "rough patch". According to the US Sun, Katy plans to fly back to California to spend the July 4 holiday with Orlando and her family. She's scheduled to have a break from the ongoing tour from July 1 until July 10, when it resumes in North America. A source told the outlet: "No one has decided it's definitely the end of the road for Katy and Orlando. They both love each other, but they have been living different lives for at least a year and in different mindsets." They said that Katy "especially" does not want to "just give up". The source added that preparations for the world tour and the travelling involved have proved to be the "biggest disruption" to her life with Orlando. They claimed that the couple have been "disconnected" for some time and have been "living separate lives" due to their work commitments. It's claimed that they are now planning to "reunite" over the upcoming holiday weekend. Katy has reportedly mentioned the prospect of returning home to the US to spend time with her fiancé Orlando, Daisy and other relatives. ‌ The source said that for months Katy and Orlando have "barely" been together for a "decent amount of time" and without "distractions". It's suggested that it's been a busy period, with Katy's schedule alone over the last year having included releasing her album 143, embarking on her tour in April and the Blue Origin spaceflight that same month. It's claimed that the couple "thrived" when they had a more "settled" life together. The source suggested that that was when they were together in the same place for a significant amount of time, which reportedly hasn't happened lately. ‌ The source however insisted to the outlet that Katy and Orlando haven't completely ended their relationship, with them instead saying that it's "quite a lot more complicated" than that. They added that it's been the longest period that the couple have been apart since they got together. "There is still a huge amount of love between them, and there is still hope that they can ride out this rough patch," the source said. They suggested that all long-term relationships experience challenges but that couples can reconnect.

Scottish Sun

7 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Inside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's 3-day Venetian wedding with star-studded guest list, $500m yacht, & unique gifts

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BILLIONAIRE Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sanchez are preparing to tie the knot in a lavish three-day wedding in Venice next week. The couple have remained tight-lipped about the upcoming nuptials but as the date nears, more details about the star-studded extravaganza have emerged. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 9 Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are just days away from tying the knot Credit: Getty 9 The pair have chosen Venice for their nuptials, city officials confirmed earlier this year (stock) Credit: AFP 9 The star-studded guest list will include the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Eva Longoria who attended Sanchez's bachelorette in Paris Credit: Instagram The 61-year-old Amazon founder proposed to Sanchez, a former TV journalist, with a multi-million dollar ring on his yacht in May 2023. Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, confirmed in March that the popular Italian city would host the couple and their guests for the highly-anticipated ceremony. He said the city was "extremely proud" the couple had chosen it for their wedding and called it "an honor that Bezos is coming to Venice". The happy couple appear to be keeping the celebration intimate with reports of around 200 guests being invited. But that relatively small list is thought to include some big names including celebrities, politicians, and business moguls. This is certainly the case if Sanchez's star-studded Parisian bachelorette party is anything to go by. The final hoorah before the "wedding of the century" was attended by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and Eva Longoria. Multiple reports suggest stars including Leonardo Di Caprio, Orlando Bloom, Mick Jagger, and Beyoncé, are expected to attend as well as Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The upcoming bash is said to be as extravagant as a royal wedding with Sanchez's brother Paul telling TMZ it would "be like a Princess Di thing". "It's gonna be an amazing event. It's gonna be star-studded and fun," he said. Eva Longoria and Her VIP Celebrity Circle: Inside Lauren Sánchez's Paris Bachelorette The couples' children from their previous marriages are also expected to be in attendance. Bezos has four children with his ex-wife Mackenzie Scott and Sanchez has two children with her ex-husband Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell and a son with ex-football player Tony Gonzalez. Exact details for the celebrations have been kept under wraps but are believed to kick off on June 24 and end on June 26, a spokesperson for Brugnaro told CNN. As preparations are underway, city officials told NBC News. that 30 water taxis out of 280 have been reserved and up to four hotels have been booked. LIFE OF LUXURY These are thought to be several luxury venues along the Grand Canal including the Belmond Hotel Cipriani, the Grand Aman Hotel, the St Regis Venis, and the Gritti Palace. A room at The Aman, built in 1550, will set you back at least $2,700 per night, with prices going up to $10,000. This is where the couple are said to be staying, per TMZ, as sources claim the entire hotel has been booked out from June 25 to June 29. City officials added that "the celebrations, attended by 250 guests, will blend into the daily rhythm of a city". "Once again, Venice proves to be a world stage," Brugnaro said. 9 The Island of San Giorgio Maggiore will be closed off to tourists for days Credit: Getty 9 Sanchez and Bezos are said to be celebrating over three days Credit: Getty 9 The Aman Hotel will host a part of the guests attending the wedding including the happy couple, according to reports Credit: AFP The actual ceremony is reported to be taking place on Bezos' $500 million yacht which will be in the Venetian lagoon, according to People. Meanwhile, the whole island of San Giorgio Maggiore which lies opposite St Mark's Square has reportedly been booked out. A source told the Daily Mail that the whole island will be "off limits to visitors" from June 24 to June 29. The power couple have also booked the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a grand event building in the city's historic center, per the outlet. The couple are said to be using mainly local vendors to cater for the huge event. Around 80 percent of the wedding is to be locally sourced including from Rosa Salva, the city's oldest pastry maker and Laguna B, a studio famed for its hand-blown Murano glass. Rosa Salva, which has been in business since 1876, has been asked to provide an array of surprises for goody bags , Antonio Rosa Salva revealed. It is not known how Laguna B will contribute to the celebrations, with the business remaining tight-lipped. One source told The Mail that a celebrity wedding planner not connected to the event has been told guests are being given "opulent" gifts just to attend. The three-day celebrations could cost as much as $21 million, The Mail reported. 9 The Scuola Grande della Misericordia has also reportedly been booked out by the couple Credit: Getty 9 Jeff Bezos' $500M superyacht Koru is where the ceremony itself is expected to take place Credit: The Mega Agency 9 The couple both have children from previous marriages who are set to attend the wedding Credit: Getty 'JUST BEGINNING' The 55-year-old bride is thought to have taken on the majority of the organizing for the big day, as Sanchez previously told Today that she has been obsessively adding to her Pinterest board "like every other bride". "I'm very excited about it, thinking about the dress. I have to say, I do have a Pinterest. I'm just like every other bride," she told Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb back in November. "I never thought at 54 — I'm going to be 55 — that I'd be an author, that I'd be getting married. I mean, life is just beginning." Her billionaire husband-to-be told Vogue in 2023 that he would not have any involvement in the planning saying, "Oh, God no. Do I look that dumb?" when asked if he would be helping out. As some locals launch protests against the wedding taking place in their city, officials have reassured them that they will not be adversely affected. Fears are increasing among some Venetians that they are being priced out of their own city by tourism. "The city is fully accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale, including other celebrity weddings, international summits such as the G7 and G20, as well as traditional events like the Festa del Redentore and the Venice Biennale," city hall officials told NBC. "The celebrations, attended by 250 guests, will blend into the daily rhythm of a city that, with dignity and respect, welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world while safeguarding the quality of life for its residents, workers, and students. "Protest initiatives are in no way representative of the majority of citizens, who are proud that Venice has been chosen as the wedding location".

The Sun

7 hours ago

• The Sun

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom to have ‘make-or-break talks' after her weeks on tour as pair hit ‘rough patch'

KATY Perry and Orlando Bloom will have "make-or-break talks" in the coming weeks after a strained past few months, The U.S. Sun can report. Katy, 40, and Orlando, 48 - who share 4-year-old daughter Daisy - have been hit with rumors of a split six years after they announced their engagement. 5 5 The singer plans to fly from Australia, where she's been performing for her Lifetimes tour, to their Montecito, California home to spend the July 4 holiday with Orlando and family. Despite rumors the couple is totally over, a source said: "no one has decided it's definitely the end of the road for Katy and Orlando." "They both love each other, but they have been living different lives for at least a year and in different mindsets. "But Katy especially doesn't want to just give up," the source continued. After spending nearly all of June Down Under, Katy's last performance in Australia will be in Adelaide on June 30. She has a break until her July 10 date in Denver, Colorado. And after his U.S. press tour promoting Deep Cover with just dog Biggie Smalls, Orlando also appears to have some time off for Independence Day. Perry was "deeply rocked" by her comeback album 143 being critically panned, "despite putting her heart and soul into the project," the source claimed. She was also slammed for taking part in the Blue Origin space flight this spring. (According to a separate source, Orlando disagreed with her decision to take part in the Jeff Bezos-backed journey, though he and Daisy supported her for the takeoff in Texas.) And she has "struggled with being on the road" since April for her tour. Watch first video inside Blue Origin space trip as Katy Perry and crew hang upside down & marvel at the moon The preparation, rehearsals and traveling have caused the "biggest disruption" to the settled life she had as a partner to Orlando. The source said: "Katy and Orlando have been disconnected for a while now, and with their work commitments have been living separate lives. "The plan is for them to reunite over the July 4 break. She has mentioned jetting back from Australia to spend time with Orlando, Daisy, her sister Angela and her kids. "They have barely been together for a decent amount of time, without distractions, for many, many months. "It has been 'go, go, go' and they thrived when they enjoyed a more settled life, being together in the same place for a length of time. But that has just not happened." Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom's Relationship Timeline Fans have followed Katy and Orlando's relationship since it began in 2016. Here's a breakdown of their romance. The lovebirds met in January 2016 at a Golden Globes afterparty. That May, the pair made their relationship Instagram official. Katy and Orlando broke up in February 2017, which their reps confirmed after fans noticed they kept their distance at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. They reunited a year later on vacation in Prague. In September 2018, the duo made their red carpet debut at the Gala for the Global Ocean at the Opera of Monte-Carlo in Monaco. Orlando popped the question on Valentine's Day the following year. In March 2019, Orlando revealed he sold his home and had moved in with Katy. In March 2020, the couple announced they were expecting their first child together, whom they welcomed on August 26. Shortly before their daughter Daisy Dove's second birthday, Katy teased that she wanted to have more children with her fiance. In May 2024, Katy had fans convinced she was pregnant again when she posted a photo of her holding a positive pregnancy test. She followed with throwback photos and videos of her sharing the news of her first pregnancy. NEVER REALLY OVER Despite the obstacles, the source insisted Katy and Orlando have not totally called it quits. "It is quite a lot more complicated than that. They have been apart for their longest amount of time since they have been together. "But there is still a huge amount of love between them, and there is still hope that they can ride out this rough patch. "Anyone in long term relationships goes through challenges, and many times when things appear to be done, couples reconnect and make things work. "The type of people they are, there still remains a lot of hope. Katy has never been happier in her life than with Orlando. "If this reunion can revive those times, then they could come through this." 5 5