President Donald Trump has unveiled a major new push to accelerate America’s commercial space ambitions, with the United States targeting more than 1,000 rocket launches and spacecraft re-entries from American soil every year by 2030.

The new policy directs US government agencies to examine federal land for additional launch and re-entry sites while encouraging greater private-sector participation in space transportation.

Trump’s plans extend beyond Earth orbit. NASA has been directed to support commercial transportation to and from the Moon, robotic missions to Mars and eventually commercial human transportation to the Red Planet.

The announcement comes as the US-China space race intensifies, with both countries pursuing ambitious lunar programs. The United States is aiming to return astronauts to the lunar surface before 2030 and establish a more sustained presence on the Moon.

Trump Unveils Major US Space Push | 1,000+ Rocket Launches by 2030 | Moon & Mars Missions Accelerate

Blue Origin’s launchpad sustained considerable damage after the New Glenn rocket exploded recently, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman does not think it can be restored until 2028. Talking to CNBC, he said it will “take some serious time”. That is a huge hit to the company's space mission as well as to the American space agency. But the unintended beneficiary of this incident could be SpaceX. NASA needs to send a lander to the moon by the end of this year, which was supposed to piggyback on New Glenn. However, Isaacman has hinted that they might have to go to Falcon 9, SpaceX's rocket, for this mission.<h2>What happened to New Glenn rocket?</h2>&nbsp;The rocket erupted into a fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, said it was a "very rough day" and promised to rebuild it as soon as possible. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to help build a Moon Base and ferry two lunar rovers in 2028. Isaacman believes that the latter is still achievable on the current timeline. “A couple of them were rovers that are meant to go to the moon on Blue Origin through their Mark 1, leveraging New Glenn, but that’s a 2028 time frame,” he said.&nbsp;Blue Origin and Isaacman are now working to salvage the company's reputation and what's at stake. Isaacman told the outlet, “We’re all getting organized generally around the idea that we certainly want to see Blue Origin be very successful. &nbsp;Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp also posted on X, saying that they can "fly before the end of this year", informing that the site’s support tower is damaged, but “it can be repaired in place" and doesn't need to be torn down or replaced. Notably, Blue Origin was scheduled to launch an uncrewed Blue Origin cargo lander - Mark 1 - atop New Glenn later this year to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar south pole.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-blue-origin-s-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-launch-pad-during-hotfire-test-what-happened-video-1780021155966">Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad ‘hotfire test’</a>&nbsp;Watch New Glenn exploding into a fireball

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Jeff Bezos&#39; New Glenn rocket exploded in &quot;anomaly&quot; at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. <a href="https://t.co/zQbNZBvLqc">pic.twitter.com/zQbNZBvLqc</a>&mdash; Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) <a href="https://x.com/BowesChay/status/2060264434526822746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>The monopoly in space race</h2> The company is in a pickle if you look at the missions it was supposed to undertake as part of NASA's vision to land humans on the Moon. Besides, this could also hand an edge to SpaceX, whose super heavy-lift rocket Falcon 9 can carry a significant amount of mass. Isaacman said NASA will likely have to go in “Falcon Heavy land" for the lander because of its carrying capabilities. “In terms of heavy lift, you know, real heavy lift, you’ve got SpaceX and Blue Origin, and obviously one of them is down a pad right now,” Isaacman said. NASA deliberately chose Blue Origin to provide a competitive alternative to SpaceX's Starship HLS. However, NASA is racing to beat China in the race to reach the Moon, and so would have to rely on SpaceX if Blue Origin's launchpad is not restored on time.<h2>Deadline for dress rehearsal of lander hit</h2> Blue Origin is also working on a New Glenn launchpad at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, but it is still under development. It was under a strict timeline to launch an uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 cargo lander before the crewed Artemis IV mission in 2028. However, industry experts note that hitting the necessary milestones by 2027 to stay on track for the 2028 landing now seems highly unlikely.

The New Glenn explosion has created a multitude of problems for Blue Origin. Even though the company thinks it can fly by the end of this year, experts believe it will impact major deadlines, especially regarding the Mark 1, which was to deliver cargo to lunar south pole at the end of 2026.

Blue Origin’s launchpad sustained considerable damage after the New Glenn rocket exploded recently, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman does not think it can be restored until 2028. Talking to CNBC, he said it will “take some serious time”. That is a huge hit to the company's space mission as well as to the American space agency. But the unintended beneficiary of this incident could be SpaceX. NASA needs to send a lander to the moon by the end of this year, which was supposed to piggyback on New Glenn. However, Isaacman has hinted that they might have to go to Falcon 9, SpaceX's rocket, for this mission. What happened to New Glenn rocket? The rocket erupted into a fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday at a Space Force launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, said it was a "very rough day" and promised to rebuild it as soon as possible. NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to help build a Moon Base and ferry two lunar rovers in 2028. Isaacman believes that the latter is still achievable on the current timeline. “A couple of them were rovers that are meant to go to the moon on Blue Origin through their Mark 1, leveraging New Glenn, but that’s a 2028 time frame,” he said. Blue Origin and Isaacman are now working to salvage the company's reputation and what's at stake. Isaacman told the outlet, “We’re all getting organized generally around the idea that we certainly want to see Blue Origin be very successful. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp also posted on X, saying that they can "fly before the end of this year", informing that the site’s support tower is damaged, but “it can be repaired in place" and doesn't need to be torn down or replaced. Notably, Blue Origin was scheduled to launch an uncrewed Blue Origin cargo lander - Mark 1 - atop New Glenn later this year to deliver scientific cargo to the lunar south pole. Also Read: Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad ‘hotfire test’ Watch New Glenn exploding into a fireball

The New Glenn explosion has created a multitude of problems for Blue Origin. Even though the company thinks it can fly by the end of this year, experts believe it will impact major deadlines, especially regarding the Mark 1, which was to deliver cargo to lunar south pole at the end of 2026.

How New Glenn explosion hands Elon Musk's SpaceX an edge, and whitewashes NASA's plans

Blue Origin is facing a major operational setback after an explosion during a pre-launch engine test severely damaged a launch pad used for its New Glenn rocket, potentially delaying missions for months and disrupting key plans for Amazon’s satellite broadband network and NASA’s lunar programme.&nbsp;The incident occurred on Thursday during a test firing ahead of a scheduled New Glenn launch next week. According to company and industry sources cited by Reuters, the booster involved was named 'o, It’s Necessary', a reference to a line from the film Interstellar. A person familiar with the matter said the launch pad was ‘practically destroyed’, with engineers expecting at least six months of disruption, if not longer. The setback comes at a critical time for Jeff Bezos’ space ambitions, as Blue Origin seeks to establish New Glenn as a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX in both the heavy-lift launch and satellite internet markets.<h2>Launch Delays Threaten Amazon’s Satellite Plans</h2>The damage could significantly affect Amazon’s satellite deployment schedule. Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-hiding-inside-the-antennae-galaxies-scientists-uncover-evidence-of-a-possible-supermassive-black-hole-1780132935399">What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;“An extended grounding by the FAA will severely threaten the timeline,” the report noted. According to Antoine Grenier, partner and head of space consulting at Analysys Mason, Amazon has already secured much of the near-term launch capacity available from alternative providers. “It's only been a year since the SpaceX Starship also exploded on the launch pad and Blue Origin can also recover. But it will take months to rebuild,” Grenier said, according to Reuters.<h2>SpaceX Gains Ground</h2>While Amazon has diversified its launch contracts by signing agreements with multiple providers, including SpaceX, New Glenn was expected to play a central role in the constellation rollout. Grenier noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry roughly half as many Kuiper satellites per mission as New Glenn, meaning a shift in launch strategy would likely require substantially more flights.&nbsp;Following the explosion, Musk posted on X: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.” He later added, “Ad astra per aspera,” a Latin phrase commonly translated as “through hardships to the stars”.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-thought-i-was-protecting-them-war-torn-gaza-sees-surge-in-early-marriages-reports-say-1780131386993">‘I thought I was protecting them’: War-torn Gaza sees surge in early marriages, reports say</a><h2>Questions for NASA and the Wider Space Industry</h2>The damaged rocket was also due to launch Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander later this year. Just days before the incident, NASA awarded the company a contract to deliver two lunar rovers ahead of the Artemis 4 mission in 2028.NASA said it would assess any near-term impact on its Artemis and Moon Base programmes. However, the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office reaffirmed their commitment to Blue Origin’s recently awarded national security launch contract despite the explosion.&nbsp;“Long term, the market still needs viable alternatives, so this strengthens SpaceX’s position at the margin, but doesn't change the broader trajectory toward a multi-provider ecosystem,” said Seraphim Space chief executive Mark Boggett.

Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.

Blue Origin is facing a major operational setback after an explosion during a pre-launch engine test severely damaged a launch pad used for its New Glenn rocket, potentially delaying missions for months and disrupting key plans for Amazon’s satellite broadband network and NASA’s lunar programme. The incident occurred on Thursday during a test firing ahead of a scheduled New Glenn launch next week. According to company and industry sources cited by Reuters, the booster involved was named 'o, It’s Necessary', a reference to a line from the film Interstellar. A person familiar with the matter said the launch pad was ‘practically destroyed’, with engineers expecting at least six months of disruption, if not longer. The setback comes at a critical time for Jeff Bezos’ space ambitions, as Blue Origin seeks to establish New Glenn as a credible rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX in both the heavy-lift launch and satellite internet markets. Launch Delays Threaten Amazon’s Satellite Plans The damage could significantly affect Amazon’s satellite deployment schedule. Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements. ALSO READ: What is hiding inside Antennae galaxies? Scientists uncover evidence of a possible supermassive black hole “An extended grounding by the FAA will severely threaten the timeline,” the report noted. According to Antoine Grenier, partner and head of space consulting at Analysys Mason, Amazon has already secured much of the near-term launch capacity available from alternative providers. “It's only been a year since the SpaceX Starship also exploded on the launch pad and Blue Origin can also recover. But it will take months to rebuild,” Grenier said, according to Reuters. SpaceX Gains Ground While Amazon has diversified its launch contracts by signing agreements with multiple providers, including SpaceX, New Glenn was expected to play a central role in the constellation rollout. Grenier noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry roughly half as many Kuiper satellites per mission as New Glenn, meaning a shift in launch strategy would likely require substantially more flights. Following the explosion, Musk posted on X: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.” He later added, “Ad astra per aspera,” a Latin phrase commonly translated as “through hardships to the stars”. ALSO READ: ‘I thought I was protecting them’: War-torn Gaza sees surge in early marriages, reports say Questions for NASA and the Wider Space Industry The damaged rocket was also due to launch Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander later this year. Just days before the incident, NASA awarded the company a contract to deliver two lunar rovers ahead of the Artemis 4 mission in 2028. NASA said it would assess any near-term impact on its Artemis and Moon Base programmes. However, the US Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office reaffirmed their commitment to Blue Origin’s recently awarded national security launch contract despite the explosion. “Long term, the market still needs viable alternatives, so this strengthens SpaceX’s position at the margin, but doesn't change the broader trajectory toward a multi-provider ecosystem,” said Seraphim Space chief executive Mark Boggett.

Amazon is aiming to build a constellation of more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites and must deploy half of them by July 2026 to meet regulatory requirements.

Blue Origin's New Glenn programme hit by months of delays after launch pad explosion

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a routine prelaunch hotfire test at Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. In a statement on social media, Blue Origin acknowledged the explosion and said that there was no damage to its personnel. According to the Brevard County Emergency Management, the explosion poses no threat to the public. However, the explosion marked a significant dent to Blue Origin's ambition to challenge SpaceX in the commercial space Industry.&nbsp;“It’s too early to know the root cause, but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it,” said Jeff Bezos in a social media statement.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jd-vance-surprise-chest-bump-air-force-academy-ai-joke-1780031027148">“I am the Vice President”: JD Vance jokes about AI heckling and shares viral chest bump at Air Force Academy graduation</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">This angle is even crazier <a href="https://t.co/bDUuiafnTg">https://t.co/bDUuiafnTg</a> <a href="https://t.co/LuLG3frNw2">pic.twitter.com/LuLG3frNw2</a>&mdash; Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) <a href="https://x.com/SawyerMerritt/status/2060174287563116696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What is the New Glenn rocket?</h2>Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket was supposed to blast off with internet satellites that are part of the Amazon Leo constellation in orbit. “At more than 320 ft (98 m) tall, New Glenn is one of the largest vehicles ever built". It uses liquid oxygen (LOX) / liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled oxygen-rich staged seven BE-4 combustion engines for the first stage and uses two liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen cryogenic rocket engines, BE-3U engines, for the second stage. The first stage uses a reusable rocket like a commercial carrier and can be used for at least 25 flights. It can carry up to 13 metric tons to Geo Stationary Transfer Orbit and 45 metric tons to Low Earth Orbit. Most reusable rockets work on two-stage separation. After the first stage separation, the booster of the New Glenn rockets reorients and touches down on Jacklyn. The second stage delivers the payload to the designated orbit before collapsing over the ocean.&nbsp;Last month, the New Glenn suffered a mishap and was temporarily grounded by the FAA. It lost its payload, BlueBird 7, an internet-beaming satellite in the upper stage, as one of its BE-3U engines did not produce enough thrust during a key burn, and landed the payload in the wrong spot.&nbsp;The New Glenn rocket was designed to compete the Space X's Falcon Heavy and Starship satellites. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who also had his own recent share of explosions, said in a social media post, “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a prelaunch hotfire test at Cape Canaveral, dealing a setback to Jeff Bezos’ ambitions to compete with SpaceX in the commercial space race.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a routine prelaunch hotfire test at Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. In a statement on social media, Blue Origin acknowledged the explosion and said that there was no damage to its personnel. According to the Brevard County Emergency Management, the explosion poses no threat to the public. However, the explosion marked a significant dent to Blue Origin's ambition to challenge SpaceX in the commercial space Industry. “It’s too early to know the root cause, but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it,” said Jeff Bezos in a social media statement. Also Read: “I am the Vice President”: JD Vance jokes about AI heckling and shares viral chest bump at Air Force Academy graduation

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a prelaunch hotfire test at Cape Canaveral, dealing a setback to Jeff Bezos’ ambitions to compete with SpaceX in the commercial space race.

What is New Glenn? Blue Origin rocket explodes during routine prelaunch test

Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin suffered a major setback on Thursday (May 28) after its New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test at Cape Canaveral in Florida, sending a huge fireball into the sky. The latest setback has triggered fresh questions about the future of the company's flagship launch vehicle. The explosion occurred during what Blue Origin described as a routine "hotfire test" of the rocket, a critical pre-launch procedure in which engines are ignited while the vehicle remains secured to the launch pad. "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test," said the company in a brief statement posted to X, adding that "all personnel have been accounted for."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-tower-of-babel-and-why-did-pope-leo-warn-about-it-while-talking-about-ai-wion-decodes-1779790151646">Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI?</a><h2>Dramatic videos show massive fireball</h2>

Dramatic videos circulating online showed smoke billowing from beneath the rocket moments before it erupted into a massive explosion, engulfing the launch pad in flames.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Blue Origin&#39;s New Glenn just blew up at LC-36 while attempting to Static Fire ahead of NG-4.<a href="https://t.co/tANS0dWyIH">https://t.co/tANS0dWyIH</a> <a href="https://t.co/PztxFoBqIw">pic.twitter.com/PztxFoBqIw</a>&mdash; NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/2060164928472854821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The company did not immediately disclose the extent of damage to the rocket or launch infrastructure. The incident drew an immediate response from Florida Congressman Mike Haridopolos, whose district includes Cape Canaveral. He said he had been in contact with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman following the explosion."I am grateful there were no reported injuries and thankful for the first responders, engineers, and launch crews who acted quickly," Haridopolos wrote on X.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tmc-leader-s-buried-cash-scandal-explodes-in-bengal-police-recover-over-20-million-from-dipankar-bhattacharya-s-farmland-1779962616557">TMC leader’s ‘buried cash’ scandal explodes in Bengal; police recover over 20 million from Dipankar Bhattacharya's farmland</a><h2>Another setback for Bezos' New Glenn programme</h2>The blast marks another blow for Blue Origin's ambitious New Glenn programme, which is designed to compete directly with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and Starship systems in the commercial launch market.Named after pioneering astronaut John Glenn, the heavy-lift rocket is central to Blue Origin's plans to become a major player in satellite launches, lunar missions and deep-space exploration.The explosion comes just weeks after another setback for the company. In April, a New Glenn mission failed to place a communications satellite into its intended orbit, prompting an internal investigation and renewed scrutiny of the programme. &nbsp;

Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes on launch pad during 'hotfire test'

Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin suffered a major setback on Thursday (May 28) after its New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test at Cape Canaveral in Florida, sending a huge fireball into the sky. The latest setback has triggered fresh questions about the future of the company's flagship launch vehicle. The explosion occurred during what Blue Origin described as a routine "hotfire test" of the rocket, a critical pre-launch procedure in which engines are ignited while the vehicle remains secured to the launch pad. "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test," said the company in a brief statement posted to X, adding that "all personnel have been accounted for." Also read | Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI? Dramatic videos show massive fireball

Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket exploded in a fireball during a crucial launch pad test in Florida. Dramatic footage shows the rocket engulfed in flames moments after engine ignition. What happened? Here's all we know.

Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during launch pad 'hotfire test'

NASA announced the first three Moon Base missions to begin building sustained operations: Moon Base I: Targeted for launch no earlier than fall 2026, this mission will use Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver NASA payloads.


NASA Announces Three Commercial Lunar Missions

Michaela Benthaus, a 33-year-old paraplegic engineer from Germany, became the first wheelchair user to go to space after launching with Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin from West Texas. Severely injured in a mountain bike accident seven years ago, Benthaus left her wheelchair behind to float in space alongside five other passengers. She described the experience as the coolest of her life.

Blue Origin: Paraplegic Engineer Becomes First Wheelchair User to Float in Space

A German aerospace engineer may soon make history by becoming the first wheelchair user to go to space. She is expected to fly on Blue Origin’s next human space mission, which will launch from West Texas, marking a big step for inclusion in space travel. Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, an aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency, has been chosen as one of six passengers for a Blue Origin spaceflight. She will ride the New Shepard rocket on its 37th mission, which is scheduled to launch soon.&nbsp;Benthaus has used a wheelchair since 2018. She was seriously injured in a mountain biking accident, which caused a spinal cord injury. New Shepard is a spacecraft built by Blue Origin, the company started by Jeff Bezos. It is used for short space trips above Earth’s atmosphere, and since 2021, most of its flights have carried people into space for a few minutes. The upcoming launch will be Blue Origin’s first human spaceflight after a gap of more than two months, during which no people were sent to space. It will be the sixth such mission, following the April flight where all six passengers were women, including singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King, who took a short trip into space together.&nbsp;The upcoming trip comes soon after Blue Origin’s recent launch of the New Glenn rocket. That mission was uncrewed (no people on board) and was launched from Florida, showing the company’s rapid progress in space missions. Here’s everything to know about Blue Origin’s next New Shepard mission, called NS-37. This will be the rocket’s 37th flight overall and its 16th mission carrying people into space.<h2>When will Blue Origin’s next rocket launch take place in Texas?</h2>&nbsp;Blue Origin plans to launch its New Shepard rocket on Thursday, December 18. The spacecraft is expected to lift off at 9:30 p.m. IST, according to the company’s announcement.The US aviation authority (FAA) has said that if the launch is delayed, Blue Origin has a backup chance to launch the next day. This means the mission can be rescheduled quickly if needed.&nbsp;<h2>From where are Blue Origin’s New Shepard rockets launched?</h2>&nbsp;Blue Origin launches its New Shepard rocket from a private launch site in Texas. The place is called Launch Site One, located north of the town of Van Horn, near the US–Mexico border.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>First wheelchair user may travel to space on next Blue Origin rocket launch</h2>&nbsp;Benthaus, an aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency, is expected to make history. She could become the first person who uses a wheelchair to travel to space, marking a major moment for inclusion in space missions. In 2018, Benthaus hurt her spine in a mountain biking accident. Because of this injury, she cannot walk, according to Blue Origin. Benthaus said that after her accident, she believed her dream of going to space was over. In an Instagram post on August 12, she said she is very grateful and hopes her journey will change how the space industry thinks, so that more people with disabilities get chances like this.&nbsp;<h2>Who will be part of the crew on Blue Origin’s next space mission?</h2>&nbsp;When New Shepard launches again, the six selected passengers will become part of a group of 80 people who have already flown on this spacecraft. These flights happened over 15 earlier human missions, and six people have even flown more than once. Apart from Benthaus, five other passengers have been chosen for the NS-37 mission.&nbsp;<ul><li>Joey Hyde – a physicist and investor from Florida</li><li>Hans Koenigsmann – a German-American aerospace engineer who worked with SpaceX for 20 years&nbsp;</li><li>Neal Milch – a business leader and entrepreneur, and chairman of a medical research institute</li><li>Adonis Pouroulis – an entrepreneur and investor in the energy and natural resources sector</li><li>Jason Stansell – an adventurer from West Texas with a strong interest in rockets and space</li></ul>&nbsp;<h2>Is Blue Origin owned by Jeff Bezos?</h2> &nbsp;Jeff Bezos, the billionaire who founded Amazon, started Blue Origin in 2000.The company is based in Washington state and tests and launches its New Shepard spacecraft from West Texas.&nbsp;<h2>What is New Shepard?</h2>&nbsp;New Shepard is a reusable rocket built by Blue Origin, reports <a href="http://usatoday.com/">usatoday.com</a>. It is mainly used to carry up to six people on short trips to the edge of space, where they experience weightlessness for a few minutes. Jeff Bezos himself flew on Blue Origin’s New Shepard during its first human mission in July 2021, reports <a href="http://usatoday.com/">usatoday.com</a>. Before carrying people, the spacecraft had completed 15 test flights since 2012, proving it was safe and reliable.&nbsp;<h2>What is New Glenn?</h2>&nbsp;The New Shepard is a small rocket meant for short space trips, and it is different from the much bigger New Glenn rocket, reports news outlet USA Today. New Glenn is built for longer missions into orbit and has already launched twice from Florida. The 322-foot-tall New Glenn rocket, one of the largest working rockets in the world, last launched on November 13, reports news outlet USA Today. The mission was to send two NASA ESCAPADE satellites toward Mars, showing the rocket’s deep-space capability.&nbsp;New Shepard is built for short space trips, but New Glenn shows Blue Origin’s bigger goal. With New Glenn, Blue Origin wants to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, whose Falcon 9 rockets currently lead the global commercial space market.&nbsp;<h2>What takes place during a New Shepard rocket launch?</h2>&nbsp;Each New Shepard space trip lasts about 11 minutes. This time includes the launch, a short stay in space, and the capsule landing back on Earth. The New Shepard rocket is named after Alan Shepard, the first American to go to space. It is about 60 feet tall and has a rounded crew capsule on top. The flight is fully automatic, which means no pilot is needed to fly the spacecraft.&nbsp;During launch, the spacecraft flies faster than 2,000 miles per hour (over 3,200 km per hour). After reaching this very high speed, the rocket booster separates from the crew capsule. At this stage, the crew capsule becomes weightless, so passengers float freely. The spacecraft then rises above the Kármán Line — the official edge of space, about 62 miles (100 km) above Earth. If people are on board, passengers can unbuckle their seats and enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness. They can float freely and look at Earth through the capsule’s large windows, getting a beautiful view of the planet.At the same time, the rocket booster returns to Earth. It fires its engines and uses fins to slow down, then lands straight up about two miles (around 3.2 km) from the launch site. The crew capsule slowly falls back toward Earth in what Blue Origin calls a “stable freefall”. Three large parachutes open, helping the capsule land gently in the desert, raising clouds of dust on touchdown.&nbsp;<h2>What is the price of a Blue Origin space ride?</h2>&nbsp;If you dream of flying to space on a Blue Origin spacecraft, you usually need to be very rich or famous enough to be specially invited. For most people, space travel is still not affordable. Blue Origin does not openly show ticket prices on its website. But to reserve a seat, a customer must agree to pay a $150,000 deposit (about ₹1.35 crores), showing that space travel is very expensive.&nbsp;In 2021, the first Blue Origin space ticket sold for $28 million (about ₹252 crore). The price was decided through an auction, where 7,600 people from 159 countries registered to bid, showing that space travel costs run into crores and are meant for the ultra-rich. However, a few selected passengers did not pay themselves. Their New Shepard seats were paid for using grants or special funding provided by large institutions, not personal money.

Here’s everything to know about Blue Origin’s next New Shepard mission, called NS-37. This will be the rocket’s 37th flight overall and its 16th mission carrying people into space.

A German aerospace engineer may soon make history by becoming the first wheelchair user to go to space. She is expected to fly on Blue Origin’s next human space mission, which will launch from West Texas, marking a big step for inclusion in space travel. Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, an aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency, has been chosen as one of six passengers for a Blue Origin spaceflight. She will ride the New Shepard rocket on its 37th mission, which is scheduled to launch soon. Benthaus has used a wheelchair since 2018. She was seriously injured in a mountain biking accident, which caused a spinal cord injury. New Shepard is a spacecraft built by Blue Origin, the company started by Jeff Bezos. It is used for short space trips above Earth’s atmosphere, and since 2021, most of its flights have carried people into space for a few minutes. The upcoming launch will be Blue Origin’s first human spaceflight after a gap of more than two months, during which no people were sent to space. It will be the sixth such mission, following the April flight where all six passengers were women, including singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King, who took a short trip into space together. The upcoming trip comes soon after Blue Origin’s recent launch of the New Glenn rocket. That mission was uncrewed (no people on board) and was launched from Florida, showing the company’s rapid progress in space missions. Here’s everything to know about Blue Origin’s next New Shepard mission, called NS-37. This will be the rocket’s 37th flight overall and its 16th mission carrying people into space. When will Blue Origin’s next rocket launch take place in Texas? Blue Origin plans to launch its New Shepard rocket on Thursday, December 18. The spacecraft is expected to lift off at 9:30 p.m. IST, according to the company’s announcement. The US aviation authority (FAA) has said that if the launch is delayed, Blue Origin has a backup chance to launch the next day. This means the mission can be rescheduled quickly if needed. From where are Blue Origin’s New Shepard rockets launched? Blue Origin launches its New Shepard rocket from a private launch site in Texas. The place is called Launch Site One, located north of the town of Van Horn, near the US–Mexico border. First wheelchair user may travel to space on next Blue Origin rocket launch Benthaus, an aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency, is expected to make history. She could become the first person who uses a wheelchair to travel to space, marking a major moment for inclusion in space missions. In 2018, Benthaus hurt her spine in a mountain biking accident. Because of this injury, she cannot walk, according to Blue Origin. Benthaus said that after her accident, she believed her dream of going to space was over. In an Instagram post on August 12, she said she is very grateful and hopes her journey will change how the space industry thinks, so that more people with disabilities get chances like this. Who will be part of the crew on Blue Origin’s next space mission? When New Shepard launches again, the six selected passengers will become part of a group of 80 people who have already flown on this spacecraft. These flights happened over 15 earlier human missions, and six people have even flown more than once. Apart from Benthaus, five other passengers have been chosen for the NS-37 mission. Joey Hyde – a physicist and investor from Florida Hans Koenigsmann – a German-American aerospace engineer who worked with SpaceX for 20 years Neal Milch – a business leader and entrepreneur, and chairman of a medical research institute Adonis Pouroulis – an entrepreneur and investor in the energy and natural resources sector Jason Stansell – an adventurer from West Texas with a strong interest in rockets and space Is Blue Origin owned by Jeff Bezos? Jeff Bezos, the billionaire who founded Amazon, started Blue Origin in 2000. The company is based in Washington state and tests and launches its New Shepard spacecraft from West Texas. What is New Shepard? New Shepard is a reusable rocket built by Blue Origin, reports usatoday.com. It is mainly used to carry up to six people on short trips to the edge of space, where they experience weightlessness for a few minutes. Jeff Bezos himself flew on Blue Origin’s New Shepard during its first human mission in July 2021, reports usatoday.com. Before carrying people, the spacecraft had completed 15 test flights since 2012, proving it was safe and reliable. What is New Glenn? The New Shepard is a small rocket meant for short space trips, and it is different from the much bigger New Glenn rocket, reports news outlet USA Today. New Glenn is built for longer missions into orbit and has already launched twice from Florida. The 322-foot-tall New Glenn rocket, one of the largest working rockets in the world, last launched on November 13, reports news outlet USA Today. The mission was to send two NASA ESCAPADE satellites toward Mars, showing the rocket’s deep-space capability. New Shepard is built for short space trips, but New Glenn shows Blue Origin’s bigger goal. With New Glenn, Blue Origin wants to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, whose Falcon 9 rockets currently lead the global commercial space market. What takes place during a New Shepard rocket launch? Each New Shepard space trip lasts about 11 minutes. This time includes the launch, a short stay in space, and the capsule landing back on Earth. The New Shepard rocket is named after Alan Shepard, the first American to go to space. It is about 60 feet tall and has a rounded crew capsule on top. The flight is fully automatic, which means no pilot is needed to fly the spacecraft. During launch, the spacecraft flies faster than 2,000 miles per hour (over 3,200 km per hour). After reaching this very high speed, the rocket booster separates from the crew capsule. At this stage, the crew capsule becomes weightless, so passengers float freely. The spacecraft then rises above the Kármán Line — the official edge of space, about 62 miles (100 km) above Earth. If people are on board, passengers can unbuckle their seats and enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness. They can float freely and look at Earth through the capsule’s large windows, getting a beautiful view of the planet. At the same time, the rocket booster returns to Earth. It fires its engines and uses fins to slow down, then lands straight up about two miles (around 3.2 km) from the launch site. The crew capsule slowly falls back toward Earth in what Blue Origin calls a “stable freefall”. Three large parachutes open, helping the capsule land gently in the desert, raising clouds of dust on touchdown. What is the price of a Blue Origin space ride? If you dream of flying to space on a Blue Origin spacecraft, you usually need to be very rich or famous enough to be specially invited. For most people, space travel is still not affordable. Blue Origin does not openly show ticket prices on its website. But to reserve a seat, a customer must agree to pay a $150,000 deposit (about ₹1.35 crores), showing that space travel is very expensive. In 2021, the first Blue Origin space ticket sold for $28 million (about ₹252 crore). The price was decided through an auction, where 7,600 people from 159 countries registered to bid, showing that space travel costs run into crores and are meant for the ultra-rich. However, a few selected passengers did not pay themselves. Their New Shepard seats were paid for using grants or special funding provided by large institutions, not personal money.

Here’s everything to know about Blue Origin’s next New Shepard mission, called NS-37. This will be the rocket’s 37th flight overall and its 16th mission carrying people into space.

First wheelchair user heads to the stars: Today’s historic launch

Blue Origin, Jess Bezos' space company, is planning to dump half a million gallons of wastewater each day into Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. It has also applied for a permit, and the matter has angered communities in the area who fear it will affect the sensitive ecosystem. Residents have spent several dollars to restore the lagoon, and are hoping the permit is denied. According to Gizmodo, a spokesperson says Blue Origin has had the permit for five years and is simply seeking a renewal. He added that the company is committed to maintaining responsible and compliant operations. Blue Origin's permit seeks to let the company operate an industrial wastewater treatment facility from which 0.467 million gallons of treated wastewater and 0.015 million gallons of untreated wastewater would be discharged into an onsite stormwater pond per day. This water would then be released into the Indian River Lagoon. The draft outlines strict prohibitions and limitations, although Space Coast residents fear it would still prove devastating nonetheless.<h2>Space Coast residents start petition against Blue Origin's plans</h2>Since learning about the permit, a petition to save the Indian River Lagoon from the wastewater has been started on Change.org. It reads, “The Indian River Lagoon is already fighting for its life. Decades of nutrient pollution, algae blooms, seagrass collapse, habitat loss, and record manatee deaths have pushed this fragile ecosystem to the edge. Now, it faces a NEW threat—and it’s one we cannot ignore." The petition has gathered over 5,000 signatures so far. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/45-000-gallons-of-radioactive-water-from-indian-point-nuclear-plant-to-be-discharged-into-hudson-river-1759385186225">45,000 gallons of radioactive water from Indian Point nuclear plant could be discharged into Hudson River as Holtec wins lawsuit</a>&nbsp;According to &nbsp;Fox 35 Orlando, the permit and the issue over the Indian River Lagoon were discussed at the Brevard County Commission on Tuesday. Since residents are worried that if Blue Origin is allowed to dump wastewater in the lagoon, it will prove harmful, the commission plans to vote on whether to request a public meeting from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).&nbsp;The Indian River Lagoon is home to more than 4,300 species, 50 of which are either endangered or threatened. The 251-kilometre-long estuary makes up 40 per cent of Florida’s eastern coast, according to Indian River County. As mentioned in the petition, the lagoon has been threatened by nutrient pollution, harmful algae blooms, and wastewater pollution. The Indian River County and Brevard County have been working for years to restore it to its natural state to help these species thrive. However, Blue Origin's plans could wash away all the effort.

Blue Origin is seeking a permit which would allow it to dump half a million gallons of wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon in Florida. This estuary houses more than 4,300 species, of which some are threatened and some endangered. Residents are trying to stop the permit from being granted.

Blue Origin, Jess Bezos' space company, is planning to dump half a million gallons of wastewater each day into Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. It has also applied for a permit, and the matter has angered communities in the area who fear it will affect the sensitive ecosystem. Residents have spent several dollars to restore the lagoon, and are hoping the permit is denied. According to Gizmodo, a spokesperson says Blue Origin has had the permit for five years and is simply seeking a renewal. He added that the company is committed to maintaining responsible and compliant operations. Blue Origin's permit seeks to let the company operate an industrial wastewater treatment facility from which 0.467 million gallons of treated wastewater and 0.015 million gallons of untreated wastewater would be discharged into an onsite stormwater pond per day. This water would then be released into the Indian River Lagoon. The draft outlines strict prohibitions and limitations, although Space Coast residents fear it would still prove devastating nonetheless. Space Coast residents start petition against Blue Origin's plans Since learning about the permit, a petition to save the Indian River Lagoon from the wastewater has been started on Change.org. It reads, “The Indian River Lagoon is already fighting for its life. Decades of nutrient pollution, algae blooms, seagrass collapse, habitat loss, and record manatee deaths have pushed this fragile ecosystem to the edge. Now, it faces a NEW threat—and it’s one we cannot ignore." The petition has gathered over 5,000 signatures so far. Also Read: 45,000 gallons of radioactive water from Indian Point nuclear plant could be discharged into Hudson River as Holtec wins lawsuit According to Fox 35 Orlando, the permit and the issue over the Indian River Lagoon were discussed at the Brevard County Commission on Tuesday. Since residents are worried that if Blue Origin is allowed to dump wastewater in the lagoon, it will prove harmful, the commission plans to vote on whether to request a public meeting from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Indian River Lagoon is home to more than 4,300 species, 50 of which are either endangered or threatened. The 251-kilometre-long estuary makes up 40 per cent of Florida’s eastern coast, according to Indian River County. As mentioned in the petition, the lagoon has been threatened by nutrient pollution, harmful algae blooms, and wastewater pollution. The Indian River County and Brevard County have been working for years to restore it to its natural state to help these species thrive. However, Blue Origin's plans could wash away all the effort.

Blue Origin is seeking a permit which would allow it to dump half a million gallons of wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon in Florida. This estuary houses more than 4,300 species, of which some are threatened and some endangered. Residents are trying to stop the permit from being granted.

Bezos's space company wants to dump 500,000mn gallons of wastewater per day into Indian River Lagoon

Blue Origin has revealed plans for a super‑heavy version of its New Glenn rocket, dubbed New Glenn 9×4, with nine BE‑4 engines on the first stage and four BE‑3U engines on the second.


Blue Origin Plans Super-Heavy Rocket to Rival Falcon & Starship

Blue Origin has successfully launched its New Glenn rocket, carrying NASA’s twin Mars spacecraft into space on a groundbreaking mission. This marks a significant milestone for both Blue Origin and NASA as they continue to push the boundaries of space exploration.

Blue Origin Launches ‘New Glenn’ Rocket with NASA’s Twin Mars Spacecraft

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin on Thursday (Nov 13) launched its New Glenn rocket, pulling off a stellar launch from Cape Canaveral. After days of waiting on shifting weather both above Florida and out in space, the company sent its New Glenn rocket into the sky with a pair of NASA spacecraft bound for Mars. What's more, a few minutes after the launch, it also achieved the landing of its booster, prompting the audience at Cape Canaveral to erupt into applause. Until now, only SpaceX had managed to bring back an orbital class booster in one piece.<h2>Blue Origin vs SpaceX</h2>Blue Origin's success comes as the company faces off Musk's SpaceX in an intensified rivalry, with the US space agency NASA recently opening up bids for its planned Moon mission.This was New Glenn’s second flight. The first reached orbit, but the booster was lost on descent. Thursday fixed that. A working reusable stage means lower costs and more frequent launches, something Blue Origin has been chasing for years.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-penny-for-your-thoughts-us-stops-minting-pennies-after-232-years-here-s-why-1763007463047">'Penny for your thoughts': US stops minting pennies after 232 years. Here's why</a><h2>A road paved with failures</h2>The road to launch was messy, reports AFP. Earlier on Sunday, the company attempted the launch, but the attempt fell apart because of bad weather. Before that, Wednesday's try was pushed back again thanks to a spike in solar activity that NASA feared might fry its instruments. Even on Thursday, a few unexplained glitches forced Blue Origin to hit pause more than once. But at 3:55 pm, the rocket lifted off in a clean arc and the mission was finally on its way.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bbc-apologises-to-trump-for-misleading-edit-as-1-billion-lawsuit-threat-looms-1763081091796">BBC apologises to Trump for misleading edit as $1 billion lawsuit threat looms</a>The 322-foot rocket now carries NASA’s ESCAPADE mission, twin spacecraft called Blue and Gold. Joseph Westlake, one of NASA’s heliophysicists, explained during the webcast that the pair will first find a "benign, safe parking orbit" and settle near Earth to gather space weather data. Then, when Earth and Mars line up just right in late 2026, they will sling themselves toward the Red Planet and arrive the following year. If missions like this work as planned, NASA could launch more Mars probes outside the usual tight alignment window that appears once every couple of years.

Blue Origin has nailed its New Glenn launch and booster landing, sending two NASA spacecraft on a path toward Mars. 

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin on Thursday (Nov 13) launched its New Glenn rocket, pulling off a stellar launch from Cape Canaveral. After days of waiting on shifting weather both above Florida and out in space, the company sent its New Glenn rocket into the sky with a pair of NASA spacecraft bound for Mars. What's more, a few minutes after the launch, it also achieved the landing of its booster, prompting the audience at Cape Canaveral to erupt into applause. Until now, only SpaceX had managed to bring back an orbital class booster in one piece. Blue Origin vs SpaceX Blue Origin's success comes as the company faces off Musk's SpaceX in an intensified rivalry, with the US space agency NASA recently opening up bids for its planned Moon mission. This was New Glenn’s second flight. The first reached orbit, but the booster was lost on descent. Thursday fixed that. A working reusable stage means lower costs and more frequent launches, something Blue Origin has been chasing for years. Also read | 'Penny for your thoughts': US stops minting pennies after 232 years. Here's why A road paved with failures The road to launch was messy, reports AFP. Earlier on Sunday, the company attempted the launch, but the attempt fell apart because of bad weather. Before that, Wednesday's try was pushed back again thanks to a spike in solar activity that NASA feared might fry its instruments. Even on Thursday, a few unexplained glitches forced Blue Origin to hit pause more than once. But at 3:55 pm, the rocket lifted off in a clean arc and the mission was finally on its way. Also read | BBC apologises to Trump for misleading edit as $1 billion lawsuit threat looms The 322-foot rocket now carries NASA’s ESCAPADE mission, twin spacecraft called Blue and Gold. Joseph Westlake, one of NASA’s heliophysicists, explained during the webcast that the pair will first find a "benign, safe parking orbit" and settle near Earth to gather space weather data. Then, when Earth and Mars line up just right in late 2026, they will sling themselves toward the Red Planet and arrive the following year. If missions like this work as planned, NASA could launch more Mars probes outside the usual tight alignment window that appears once every couple of years.

Blue Origin has nailed its New Glenn launch and booster landing, sending two NASA spacecraft on a path toward Mars.&nbsp;

Blue Origin nails New Glenn launch, sends NASA’s Mars mission on its way

This transition marks a pivotal moment in space exploration, with several countries and companies stepping up to fill the void left by the ISS.

This transition marks a pivotal moment in space exploration, with several countries and companies stepping up to fill the void left by the ISS.

Next-generation space stations: How many countries are racing to replace the ISS?

Arvinder 'Arvi' Singh Bahal, an 80-year-old real estate investor originally from Agra, India, achieved another remarkable milestone on Sunday as he soared to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin NS-34 mission. The successful launch took place from Launch Site One in West Texas at 7:30 am local time (6:00 pm IST) and marks Blue Origin’s 14th human flight and the 34th mission in its history.&nbsp;<h2>From Agra to the Edge of Space</h2>&nbsp;Bahal, now a US citizen, is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Bahal has travelled to every country on Earth, including remote destinations such as the North and South Poles. His list of extreme adventures includes skydiving over Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza.&nbsp;Describing Bahal, Blue Origin wrote, “Arvi is a real estate investor born in Agra, India, and now a naturalized US citizen. A lifelong traveler and adventurer, Arvi has visited every country in the world, the North and South Poles, and skydived Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza. He holds a private pilot’s license and also flies helicopters.”As president of Bahal Properties, a real estate firm he has led since 1975, Bahal has built a life rooted in exploration, both in business and in travel. Today’s journey aboard the New Shepard rocket extends that passion beyond the atmosphere.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔁 NS-34 Replay: Booster Touchdown! <a href="https://t.co/WJfGY2mjNa">pic.twitter.com/WJfGY2mjNa</a>&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1952019214023188966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>The Crew</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>Bahal shared the six-seat capsule with fellow space tourists: Turkish businessman Gökhan Erdem; Puerto Rican meteorologist and Emmy Award–winning journalist Deborah Martorell; English philanthropist Lionel Pitchford; entrepreneur J.D. Russell, who previously flew on NS-28; and Justin Sun, Ambassador and former Permanent Representative of Grenada to the WTO. Sun is known for his $28 million bid in 2021, which supported 19 space-focused charities aiming to inspire young people in STEAM fields.&nbsp;Martorell, known for her environmental and space reporting, became one of the first meteorologists to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The inclusion of such a varied crew underlines Blue Origin’s ongoing commitment to making space tourism accessible to civilians from diverse backgrounds.&nbsp;<h2>A Growing Legacy for Blue Origin</h2>&nbsp;With this flight that lasted for about 10-11 mins, Blue Origin has now flown 70 people above the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space. The NS-34 launch window opened at 7:30 am local time, with the live stream beginning 30 minutes before liftoff and watched by viewers around the globe.&nbsp;Founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin continues to expand its civilian spaceflight programme, with missions drawing adventurers, philanthropists, and pioneers alike.

The successful launch took place from Launch Site One in West Texas at 7:30 am local time (6:00 pm IST) and marks Blue Origin’s 14th human flight and the 34th mission in its history.

Arvinder 'Arvi' Singh Bahal, an 80-year-old real estate investor originally from Agra, India, achieved another remarkable milestone on Sunday as he soared to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin NS-34 mission. The successful launch took place from Launch Site One in West Texas at 7:30 am local time (6:00 pm IST) and marks Blue Origin’s 14th human flight and the 34th mission in its history. From Agra to the Edge of Space Bahal, now a US citizen, is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Bahal has travelled to every country on Earth, including remote destinations such as the North and South Poles. His list of extreme adventures includes skydiving over Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza. Describing Bahal, Blue Origin wrote, “Arvi is a real estate investor born in Agra, India, and now a naturalized US citizen. A lifelong traveler and adventurer, Arvi has visited every country in the world, the North and South Poles, and skydived Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza. He holds a private pilot’s license and also flies helicopters.” As president of Bahal Properties, a real estate firm he has led since 1975, Bahal has built a life rooted in exploration, both in business and in travel. Today’s journey aboard the New Shepard rocket extends that passion beyond the atmosphere.

The successful launch took place from Launch Site One in West Texas at 7:30 am local time (6:00 pm IST) and marks Blue Origin’s 14th human flight and the 34th mission in its history.

Indian-born adventurer Arvinder Singh Bahal, 80, defies age to soar into space on Blue Origin’s NS-34

Space tourism is growing as private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin offer trips beyond Earth. Pioneered by billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, it’s a costly adventure with both risks and rewards. As tech advances, prices may drop and space travel could expand.

Space tourism is growing as private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin offer trips beyond Earth. Pioneered by billionaires like Bezos and Musk, it’s a costly adventure with both risks and rewards. As tech advances, prices may drop and space travel could expand.

Why is space tourism becoming a new hobby for billionaires?

The space journey of pop icon Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King, along with others, was marked as a historic moment for women in space tourism. However, while the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/blue-origin">Blue Origin</a> all-female flight made the headlines, it has sparked a series of conspiracy theories among netizens.
<h2>Katy Perry&rsquo;s hair</h2>
X users pointed out that Katy Perry&rsquo;s hair was floating in the wrong direction, indicating that the whole space mission was fake. Social media users noted that when NASA astronaut Sunita Williams was stuck in space, her hair was up in wild angles, unlike Perry&rsquo;s hair.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-space-flight-trolled-singer-faces-criticism-on-tone-deaf-flight-on-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-all-female-crew-see-viral-posts-8964857">'Vapid' Katy Perry trolled for 'tone-deaf' Blue Origin space flight that lasted few seconds. Some of the criticism is legit | See samples</a>
Williams' hair in zero gravity was so iconic that once US President Donald Trump remarked on it, calling the astronaut the &ldquo;woman with the wild hair&rdquo;. This led to viewers questioning why the NS-31 crew members&rsquo; hair appears still during their moment in space, sparking conspiracy theories.
&ldquo;The real astronaut lady that Spacex X saved had her hair all raised. This is so fake,&rdquo; a user wrote on X.
Another said, &ldquo;I have long hair... And when I'm underwater my hair just flows and sways and goes with the emotions in the water... You see none of that in these fake space photos.&rdquo; A third commented, &ldquo;Watch their hair. Then look at Sumi's while in space. This is all fake.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-blue-origin-space-craft-jeff-bezos-all-women-crew-gayle-king-lauren-sanchez-8961944">Katy Perry sings 'What a Wonderful World' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth</a>
However, there is also a possibility that it was because the Blue Origin crew had their hair set by professionals ahead of their 11-minute space journey.
&ldquo;Totally depends how much freaking hairspray is in that hair,&rdquo; a user noted.
<h2>Gayle King&rsquo;s hand</h2>
In a viral TikTok video, a user claimed that Gayle King&rsquo;s hand mysteriously disappears in a clip, where the crew is seen floating in a spacecraft, suggesting that the video was shot in green screen rather than during a real space flight.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-set-to-roar-into-space-on-all-female-flight-8959978">Katy Perry set to roar into space on all-female flight</a>
In the caption, the user alleged, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not real it's fake Don't believe me find the original video download yourself and super speed it down. What&rsquo;s going on what are the distracting us from? I have goosebumps.&rdquo; Several other social media users supported the claims.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think you&rsquo;ve done a great job uploading this and trying ur best to show everyone what they can&rsquo;t see, if anyone can&rsquo;t comprehend they will find it elsewhere no need to apologize for the eye opener,&rdquo; one user said.
Watch | Historic Blue Origin flight: Women astronauts experience panoramic views of Earth
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1404_ARJUN_KATY_10PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1404_ARJUN_KATY_10PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=272&amp;tags=Blue Origin, Earth, World News, WION" title="Historic Blue Origin flight: Women astronauts experience panoramic views of Earth" id="PL_iframe_block-m9myx9ed-gpz68opi-yoldebwm"></iframe>
However, the claim was debunked after Blue Origin posted a slow-motion clip showing no distortion of King&rsquo;s hand, suggesting the video posted by the TikTok user was a result of poor editing or video compression.

Social media users noted that when NASA astronaut Sunita Williams was stuck in space, her hair was up in wild angles, unlike Perry’s hair. Trending | SCIENCE & TECH | World

The space journey of pop icon Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King, along with others, was marked as a historic moment for women in space tourism. However, while the Blue Origin all-female flight made the headlines, it has sparked a series of conspiracy theories among netizens. Katy Perry’s hair X users pointed out that Katy Perry’s hair was floating in the wrong direction, indicating that the whole space mission was fake. Social media users noted that when NASA astronaut Sunita Williams was stuck in space, her hair was up in wild angles, unlike Perry’s hair. Also read | 'Vapid' Katy Perry trolled for 'tone-deaf' Blue Origin space flight that lasted few seconds. Some of the criticism is legit | See samples Williams' hair in zero gravity was so iconic that once US President Donald Trump remarked on it, calling the astronaut the “woman with the wild hair”. This led to viewers questioning why the NS-31 crew members’ hair appears still during their moment in space, sparking conspiracy theories. “The real astronaut lady that Spacex X saved had her hair all raised. This is so fake,” a user wrote on X. Another said, “I have long hair... And when I'm underwater my hair just flows and sways and goes with the emotions in the water... You see none of that in these fake space photos.” A third commented, “Watch their hair. Then look at Sumi's while in space. This is all fake.” Also read | Katy Perry sings 'What a Wonderful World' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth However, there is also a possibility that it was because the Blue Origin crew had their hair set by professionals ahead of their 11-minute space journey. “Totally depends how much freaking hairspray is in that hair,” a user noted. Gayle King’s hand In a viral TikTok video, a user claimed that Gayle King’s hand mysteriously disappears in a clip, where the crew is seen floating in a spacecraft, suggesting that the video was shot in green screen rather than during a real space flight. Also read | Katy Perry set to roar into space on all-female flight In the caption, the user alleged, “It’s not real it's fake Don't believe me find the original video download yourself and super speed it down. What’s going on what are the distracting us from? I have goosebumps.” Several other social media users supported the claims. “I think you’ve done a great job uploading this and trying ur best to show everyone what they can’t see, if anyone can’t comprehend they will find it elsewhere no need to apologize for the eye opener,” one user said. Watch | Historic Blue Origin flight: Women astronauts experience panoramic views of Earth However, the claim was debunked after Blue Origin posted a slow-motion clip showing no distortion of King’s hand, suggesting the video posted by the TikTok user was a result of poor editing or video compression.

Was Blue Origin’s all-female flight hoax? Netizens point Katy Perry’s hair, Gayle King’s hand as conspiracy theories float

Katy Perry's maiden flight to space is attracting criticism. The singer was part of the all-female crew that took a trip that William Shatner once called "like a funeral". Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn hopped onto Blue Shepard and went to space on April 14. The entire thing lasted a few minutes, and people are pointing out the wastefulness of the exercise.
Shatner, who was a part of Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin mission in 2021, at the time said some heart-wrenching words about being in space. He compared it to a "funeral" and a cold place where nothing exists. "My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral," he said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-space-flight-trolled-singer-faces-criticism-on-tone-deaf-flight-on-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-all-female-crew-see-viral-posts-8964857" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Vapid' Katy Perry trolled for 'tone-deaf' Blue Origin space flight that lasted few seconds</a>
His quote from four years back is not going viral amidst the latest Blue Origin voyage to space.&nbsp;
An X user named silvergelpen posted the quote and questioned why anybody who is not an astronaut would want to go to space after hearing what Shatner said.
Shatner, famous for playing James T. Kirk on Star Trek, said after returning that he thought "being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe."
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-blue-origin-space-craft-jeff-bezos-all-women-crew-gayle-king-lauren-sanchez-8961944" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">Katy Perry sings 'What a Wonderful World' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth</a>
"In the film 'Contact,' when Jodie Foster&rsquo;s character goes to space and looks out into the heavens, she lets out an astonished whisper, 'They should&rsquo;ve sent a poet."
However, what he experienced wasn't beautiful.&nbsp;
<h2>Humanity is destroying what is truly beautiful, Shatner said</h2>
Shatner said he realised that there is nothing beautiful about space. In fact, the real beauty is on Earth, which is slowly being destroyed by human activity. He said, the moment he understood this, he felt even more connected with Earth.
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1404_ARJUN_SPACE_9PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1404_ARJUN_SPACE_9PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=133&amp;tags=Blue Origin, World News, WION" title="Blue Origin flight: Katy Perry kisses the ground as Blue Origin crew return to land" id="PL_iframe_block-m9jh5zlq-c1jpohnf-np33f6vy"></iframe>
"I discovered that the beauty isn&rsquo;t out there; it&rsquo;s down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound."
<h2>Being in space was like 'grieving'</h2>
Shatner admitted that being in space was a moment of grief for him. "It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness," he said.
The 94-year-old actor was saddened to see that the life that took 5 billion years to evolve on Earth is slowly dying at the hands of humanity.&nbsp;
"Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind," Shatner said.

William Shatner went to space on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin mission in 2021 and realised that space was dead and that the real beauty was on Earth. World Trending

Katy Perry's maiden flight to space is attracting criticism. The singer was part of the all-female crew that took a trip that William Shatner once called "like a funeral". Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn hopped onto Blue Shepard and went to space on April 14. The entire thing lasted a few minutes, and people are pointing out the wastefulness of the exercise. Shatner, who was a part of Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin mission in 2021, at the time said some heart-wrenching words about being in space. He compared it to a "funeral" and a cold place where nothing exists. "My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral," he said. Also Read: 'Vapid' Katy Perry trolled for 'tone-deaf' Blue Origin space flight that lasted few seconds His quote from four years back is not going viral amidst the latest Blue Origin voyage to space. An X user named silvergelpen posted the quote and questioned why anybody who is not an astronaut would want to go to space after hearing what Shatner said. Shatner, famous for playing James T. Kirk on Star Trek, said after returning that he thought "being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe." Also Read: Katy Perry sings 'What a Wonderful World' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth "In the film 'Contact,' when Jodie Foster’s character goes to space and looks out into the heavens, she lets out an astonished whisper, 'They should’ve sent a poet." However, what he experienced wasn't beautiful. Humanity is destroying what is truly beautiful, Shatner said Shatner said he realised that there is nothing beautiful about space. In fact, the real beauty is on Earth, which is slowly being destroyed by human activity. He said, the moment he understood this, he felt even more connected with Earth. "I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there; it’s down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound." Being in space was like 'grieving' Shatner admitted that being in space was a moment of grief for him. "It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness," he said. The 94-year-old actor was saddened to see that the life that took 5 billion years to evolve on Earth is slowly dying at the hands of humanity. "Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind," Shatner said.

Being in space was like a 'funeral': William 'Kirk' Shatner's haunting experience goes viral

Katy Perry space flight trolled: Katy Perry went into space for a few seconds on Monday (Apr 14) but back on earth, the US singer is getting a lot of trolling. Some of the points raised by her critics happen to be legitimate.
Key issues raised in the criticism of her space flight are that it was more of a photo op than a real flight.&nbsp;Others said it was tone-deaf on several levels: climate change and emissions, money being spent on such vanity projects&nbsp; while many are still wallowing in poverty.
Some were political too and referenced the Trump administration's cuts of NASA funding.
<h2>Katy Perry's space flight details </h2>
It was supposed to be a history-making sojourn: an all-female crew sent up by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos&rsquo; space exploration company Blue Origin.
Besides Perry, the passengers were: CBS anchor Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, producer Kerianne Flynn, and Bezos&rsquo; fianc&eacute;e Lauren S&aacute;nchez.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/welcome-back-ns-31-crew-blue-origin-all-women-flight-returns-to-earth-after-historic-achievement-8961649">&lsquo;Welcome back, NS-31 crew!&rsquo;: Blue Origin all-women flight returns to earth after historic achievement</a>
The crew crossed the K&aacute;rm&aacute;n line, the official point where Earth's atmosphere ends and space begins.
Perry sang Louis Armstrong's classic song "What a Wonderful World" when she saw the Earth from space.
She kissed the earth after landing back.&nbsp;
<h2>How the internet reacted to Katy Perry's space flight on Blue Origin</h2>
&nbsp;
Some of the posts were about how short the trip was.&nbsp;"Girl went to space for 11 minutes and came back acting like she escaped Interstellar," said one user.&nbsp;"Katy Perry went to space for like 4 minutes wtf is she kissing the ground for," another person posted on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Katy Perry&rsquo;s trip to space 💀 <a href="https://t.co/W3VgMV0HRm">pic.twitter.com/W3VgMV0HRm</a>
&mdash; The Immortal (@TheImmortal007) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheImmortal007/status/1912003529532744135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Some reactions were more serious, saying that there were more important people on the flight, whereas Perry got all the attention.&nbsp;
"The only person on this space flight people should be talking about is Amanda Nguyen. She is a rape survivor who quit being an astronaut to pursue criminal justice and got rape laws changed. I&rsquo;m sick of hearing about vapid Katy Perry," posted one user.
Connecting the space flight to women's empowerment didn't go down well with some.
"Crazy how Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez going to &ldquo;space&rdquo; for 10 minutes is supposed to &ldquo;inspire women&rdquo;, but the women who already worked at NASA are *checks notes* getting fired and getting their bios removed from the site," said one user.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-blue-origin-space-craft-jeff-bezos-all-women-crew-gayle-king-lauren-sanchez-8961944">Katy Perry sings 'What a Wonderful World' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth</a>
 This comment came amid news of Indian-origin diversity chief of NASA Neela Rajendra exiting NASA.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Blue Origin really said: <a href="https://t.co/ZcnDqmRbY5">pic.twitter.com/ZcnDqmRbY5</a>
&mdash; THEE teo. (@heymrteo) <a href="https://twitter.com/heymrteo/status/1911818120601244114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

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There were references to the return of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on March 19, after being stuck in space for more than nine months due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. One user asked: "How did the celebs get up and down to space so quickly but it took many months for the previous astronauts to come back to earth that ended up being stuck and&nbsp; @SpaceX had to save them?"
The NASA astronauts'&nbsp; mission to the International Space Station was planned for only eight days.
<h2>A vanity project: Space tourism flights damage environment</h2>
Some of the comments described the space trip as 'tone deaf', given the money being spent and how space flights are damaging the environment.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/im-really-excited-katy-perry-to-travel-into-space-tomorrow-aboard-blue-origin-rocket-8956981">'I'm really excited': Katy Perry to travel into space tomorrow aboard Blue Origin rocket</a>
&ldquo;That space mission this morning? That&rsquo;s end time s***. It&rsquo;s beyond parody&hellip; You say you care about Mother Earth and then launch yourself into orbit with a company actively destroying it? Think about how many resources went into putting these women into space&hellip; For what? What was the marketing there? I&rsquo;m disgusted,&rdquo; said actress Emily Ratajkowski in a TikTok video.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They was up there for like 6 minutes 💀 <a href="https://t.co/ohibvZoDgr">pic.twitter.com/ohibvZoDgr</a>
&mdash; SUAREZ (@suayrez) <a href="https://twitter.com/suayrez/status/1911859785424937037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&ldquo;Billion dollars bought some good memes I guess,&rdquo; Actor-director Olivia Wilde posted on Instagram.
&ldquo;Thinking &lsquo;we have to protect our mother&rsquo; about the earth after going on a vanity space flight funded by a billionaire whose company is destroying said planet is just so funny, she&rsquo;s got jokes,&rdquo; wrote a social media user.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/jeff-bezos-and-lauren-sanchez-planning-a-summer-destination-wedding-8830286">Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez planning a summer destination wedding: Report</a>
Another user wrote: &ldquo;Katy Perry burned more emissions than Taylor Swift did during the entire Eras Tour. Taylor brought millions to local economies. This? Nothing.&rdquo;
<h2>How costly is the Blue Origin space tourism flight?</h2>
Booking a seat on a Blue Origin space trip can cost between $150,000 and $28 million.&nbsp;
That is what politician Nina Turner didn't like. &ldquo;If Jeff Bezos can send Katy Perry into space, he can pay a wealth tax so every American has debt-free healthcare,&rdquo; she posted.
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Katy Perry trolled: an all-female crew sent up by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company Blue Origin. World Entertainment Trending

Katy Perry space flight trolled: Katy Perry went into space for a few seconds on Monday (Apr 14) but back on earth, the US singer is getting a lot of trolling. Some of the points raised by her critics happen to be legitimate. Key issues raised in the criticism of her space flight are that it was more of a photo op than a real flight. Others said it was tone-deaf on several levels: climate change and emissions, money being spent on such vanity projects while many are still wallowing in poverty. Some were political too and referenced the Trump administration's cuts of NASA funding. Katy Perry's space flight details It was supposed to be a history-making sojourn: an all-female crew sent up by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company Blue Origin. Besides Perry, the passengers were: CBS anchor Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, producer Kerianne Flynn, and Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez. ‘Welcome back, NS-31 crew!’: Blue Origin all-women flight returns to earth after historic achievement The crew crossed the Kármán line, the official point where Earth's atmosphere ends and space begins. Perry sang Louis Armstrong's classic song "What a Wonderful World" when she saw the Earth from space. She kissed the earth after landing back. How the internet reacted to Katy Perry's space flight on Blue Origin Some of the posts were about how short the trip was. "Girl went to space for 11 minutes and came back acting like she escaped Interstellar," said one user. "Katy Perry went to space for like 4 minutes wtf is she kissing the ground for," another person posted on X. Katy Perry’s trip to space 💀 pic.twitter.com/W3VgMV0HRm — The Immortal (@TheImmortal007) April 15, 2025 Some reactions were more serious, saying that there were more important people on the flight, whereas Perry got all the attention. "The only person on this space flight people should be talking about is Amanda Nguyen. She is a rape survivor who quit being an astronaut to pursue criminal justice and got rape laws changed. I’m sick of hearing about vapid Katy Perry," posted one user. Connecting the space flight to women's empowerment didn't go down well with some. "Crazy how Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez going to “space” for 10 minutes is supposed to “inspire women”, but the women who already worked at NASA are *checks notes* getting fired and getting their bios removed from the site," said one user. Katy Perry sings 'What a Wonderful World' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth This comment came amid news of Indian-origin diversity chief of NASA Neela Rajendra exiting NASA. Blue Origin really said: pic.twitter.com/ZcnDqmRbY5 — THEE teo. (@heymrteo) April 14, 2025 There were references to the return of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on March 19, after being stuck in space for more than nine months due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. One user asked: "How did the celebs get up and down to space so quickly but it took many months for the previous astronauts to come back to earth that ended up being stuck and @SpaceX had to save them?" The NASA astronauts' mission to the International Space Station was planned for only eight days. A vanity project: Space tourism flights damage environment Some of the comments described the space trip as 'tone deaf', given the money being spent and how space flights are damaging the environment. 'I'm really excited': Katy Perry to travel into space tomorrow aboard Blue Origin rocket “That space mission this morning? That’s end time s***. It’s beyond parody… You say you care about Mother Earth and then launch yourself into orbit with a company actively destroying it? Think about how many resources went into putting these women into space… For what? What was the marketing there? I’m disgusted,” said actress Emily Ratajkowski in a TikTok video. They was up there for like 6 minutes 💀 pic.twitter.com/ohibvZoDgr — SUAREZ (@suayrez) April 14, 2025 “Billion dollars bought some good memes I guess,” Actor-director Olivia Wilde posted on Instagram. “Thinking ‘we have to protect our mother’ about the earth after going on a vanity space flight funded by a billionaire whose company is destroying said planet is just so funny, she’s got jokes,” wrote a social media user. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez planning a summer destination wedding: Report Another user wrote: “Katy Perry burned more emissions than Taylor Swift did during the entire Eras Tour. Taylor brought millions to local economies. This? Nothing.” How costly is the Blue Origin space tourism flight? Booking a seat on a Blue Origin space trip can cost between $150,000 and $28 million. That is what politician Nina Turner didn't like. “If Jeff Bezos can send Katy Perry into space, he can pay a wealth tax so every American has debt-free healthcare,” she posted.

'Vapid' Katy Perry trolled for 'tone-deaf' Blue Origin space flight that lasted few seconds. Some of the criticism is legit | See samples

Out of 700 people who have ventured into space women account for only about 12 to 14% of them but this figure is now changing with Blue Origin's historic launch of an all female crew for space tourism. Watch in for more details!

Historic Blue Origin flight: Women astronauts experience panoramic views of Earth

Singer Katy Perry kissed the ground after her Blue Origin space flight returned to land on Monday. Blue Origin's founder, Jeff Bezos, opened the capsule door to welcome the all-female crew back to Earth. Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez, who was one of the six women on board, was the first to leave the capsule. Bezos greeted her with a hug. Watch in for more details!

Blue Origin flight: Katy Perry kisses the ground as Blue Origin crew return to land

Out of 700 people who have ventured into space women account for only about 12 to 14% of them but this figure is now changing with Blue Origin's historic launch of an all female crew for space tourism liftoff new

Blue Origin flight: First all-female crew arrives back on Earth after historic space journey

US President Donald Trump&nbsp;distanced himself from the war between Russia and Ukraine, insisting that the conflict is not of his making and placing the blame on his predecessor, Joe Biden.
In other news, Blue Origin&rsquo;s New Shepard 31 carrying six women has successfully completed its flight with pop icon Katy Perry on board.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that trade wars benefit no one in a thinly veiled message aimed at Donald Trump&rsquo;s continued tariffs on Chinese goods.
Click on the headlines for more
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-just-got-here-trump-insists-russia-ukraine-war-not-his-war-slams-zelensky-biden-for-absolutely-horrible-job-8961927">&lsquo;I just got here&rsquo;: Trump insists Russia-Ukraine War &lsquo;not his war,&rsquo; slams Zelensky, Biden for &lsquo;absolutely horrible job&rsquo;</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/03/04/CFgzy3CIGPvzmxgFmpkH.png" style="width: 1280px;">
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US President Donald Trump has once again distanced himself from the war between Russia and Ukraine, insisting that the conflict is not of his making and placing the blame on his predecessor, Joe Biden.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/welcome-back-ns-31-crew-blue-origin-all-women-flight-returns-to-earth-after-historic-achievement-8961649">&lsquo;Welcome back, NS-31 crew!&rsquo;: Blue Origin's all-women flight returns to earth after historic achievement</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="The flight marked the first all-women crewed flight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight in 1963." src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/14/pVDi8qjbV30krmklSbhj.jpg" style="width: 1280px;">
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Blue Origin&rsquo;s New Shepard 31 carrying six women has successfully completed its flight with pop icon Katy Perry on board. The all-women crew of the NS-31 have returned to Earth after deploying their parachutes following the historic flight to space.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-issues-warning-against-trump-tariffs-as-china-eyes-to-cast-itself-as-leader-in-southeast-asia-8961642">'No winners in trade war': Xi issues warning against Trump tariffs as China eyes to cast itself as leader in Southeast Asia</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/04/ocrofyoPjXurWjn76KGd.png" style="width: 1280px;">
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that trade wars benefit no one in a thinly veiled message aimed at Donald Trump&rsquo;s continued tariffs on Chinese goods. Xi&rsquo;s comments were made as he set off on a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, which includes stops in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-belgium-confirms-mehul-choksis-arrest-indian-extradition-request-8960987">Exclusive: Belgium confirms Mehul Choksi's arrest, Indian extradition request</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Indian businessman Mehul Choksi, accused of defrauding PNB bank, living in Belgium" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/14/PeB3j3ABMpAvr4Flfuml.png" style="width: 1280px;">
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Belgium has confirmed that authorities in the country have arrested Mehul Choksi, wanted in India for his involvement in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam. Choksi fled India after the scam emerged and took Antigua Citizenship.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-is-bidens-war-eu-convenes-emergency-talks-after-trump-calls-russian-strike-on-ukraine-a-mistake-8960870">&lsquo;This is Biden&rsquo;s war&rsquo;: EU convenes emergency talks after Trump calls Russian strike on Ukraine a &lsquo;mistake&rsquo;</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="File photos of Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Donald Trump (right)." src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/26/b94oCPJ0FzBvQT4Kpjak.png" style="width: 1280px;">
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EU foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg on Monday (April 14), with Ukraine topping the agenda, following a deadly Russian strike on the city of Sumy that left at least 34 people dead and more than 100 injured.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-was-joy-saini-indian-origin-doctor-who-died-in-new-york-plane-crash-8961329">Who was Joy Saini, Indian-origin doctor who died in New York plane crash?</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Joy Saini was born in Punjab, India, and immigrated to the US with her parents. She was a pelvic surgeon and founded Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness." src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/14/pnwBMQ9OXQINczgVRE7w.jpg" style="width: 1280px;">
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Indian-origin doctor Joy Saini and her family were among the six people who died in a prove plane crash in Copake, New York, on Saturday (Apr 12). The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was carrying a family of physicians and student-athletes to the Catskills for Passover when it went down shortly after noon in a muddy field, killing everyone onboard.
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<figure class="image"><img alt="Police motorcycles that were set ablaze by protesters in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Monday. " src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1221x682/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/14/aFXwP2A9Mw2qBGMPpBxn.jpg" style="width: 1221px;">
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Violent clashes broke out in the South 24 Parganas district of India&rsquo;s eastern state of West Bengal on Monday after supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) clashed with the police during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
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The Trump administration is pushing forward with major antitrust cases against Big Tech, showing no signs of backing down, despite expectations that a second Trump term might ease pressure on the industry.
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<figure class="image"><img alt="SRK LA Villa" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/14/mYfA3A7sBFvTX8Ia2xay.png" style="width: 1280px;">
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For decades, fans have gathered outside Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan&rsquo;s Mumbai Mansion to catch a glimpse of the actor or simply click a photo for memory&rsquo;s sake. Most have been curious about Khan&rsquo;s luxurious home and how it looks from inside. Khan is known to live a luxurious life and has several homes in different parts of the world. Now, fans can get a taste of Khan&rsquo;s lifestyle first hand as his luxury Beverly Hills mansion in Los Angeles, America is up on AirBnb.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-fire-breaks-out-at-srhs-hyderabad-hotel-all-players-evacuated-and-safe-report-8960645">IPL 2025: Fire breaks out at luxury Hyderabad hotel hosting SRH players - Report</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="IPL 2025 Fire breaks out at SRH&rsquo;s Hyderabad hotel, all players evacuated and safe - Report " src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/14/rkcRQvPomzcWJPotJ5D8.jpg" style="width: 1280px;">
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In a shocking turn of events, a fire broke out in a luxury hotel in Hyderabad, India, where IPL franchise SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) players were putting up. The incident occurred at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, on Monday (Apr 14) morning. The latest report suggests there were no casualties, and all SRH players were evacuated on time and are safe.

Here are the top 10 stories from across the world.

US President Donald Trump distanced himself from the war between Russia and Ukraine, insisting that the conflict is not of his making and placing the blame on his predecessor, Joe Biden. In other news, Blue Origin’s New Shepard 31 carrying six women has successfully completed its flight with pop icon Katy Perry on board. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that trade wars benefit no one in a thinly veiled message aimed at Donald Trump’s continued tariffs on Chinese goods. Click on the headlines for more ‘I just got here’: Trump insists Russia-Ukraine War ‘not his war,’ slams Zelensky, Biden for ‘absolutely horrible job’ US President Donald Trump has once again distanced himself from the war between Russia and Ukraine, insisting that the conflict is not of his making and placing the blame on his predecessor, Joe Biden. ‘Welcome back, NS-31 crew!’: Blue Origin's all-women flight returns to earth after historic achievement Blue Origin’s New Shepard 31 carrying six women has successfully completed its flight with pop icon Katy Perry on board. The all-women crew of the NS-31 have returned to Earth after deploying their parachutes following the historic flight to space. 'No winners in trade war': Xi issues warning against Trump tariffs as China eyes to cast itself as leader in Southeast Asia Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that trade wars benefit no one in a thinly veiled message aimed at Donald Trump’s continued tariffs on Chinese goods. Xi’s comments were made as he set off on a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, which includes stops in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Exclusive: Belgium confirms Mehul Choksi's arrest, Indian extradition request Belgium has confirmed that authorities in the country have arrested Mehul Choksi, wanted in India for his involvement in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam. Choksi fled India after the scam emerged and took Antigua Citizenship. ‘This is Biden’s war’: EU convenes emergency talks after Trump calls Russian strike on Ukraine a ‘mistake’ EU foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg on Monday (April 14), with Ukraine topping the agenda, following a deadly Russian strike on the city of Sumy that left at least 34 people dead and more than 100 injured. Who was Joy Saini, Indian-origin doctor who died in New York plane crash? Indian-origin doctor Joy Saini and her family were among the six people who died in a prove plane crash in Copake, New York, on Saturday (Apr 12). The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was carrying a family of physicians and student-athletes to the Catskills for Passover when it went down shortly after noon in a muddy field, killing everyone onboard. After Murshidabad, violence erupts in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas over Waqf law Violent clashes broke out in the South 24 Parganas district of India’s eastern state of West Bengal on Monday after supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) clashed with the police during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Trump’s big tech war: What antitrust cases mean for Google, Meta, Apple and the Future of AI | Explained The Trump administration is pushing forward with major antitrust cases against Big Tech, showing no signs of backing down, despite expectations that a second Trump term might ease pressure on the industry. Want to stay at Shah Rukh Khan’s luxurious Los Angeles Villa? Here’s how much you have to pay For decades, fans have gathered outside Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s Mumbai Mansion to catch a glimpse of the actor or simply click a photo for memory’s sake. Most have been curious about Khan’s luxurious home and how it looks from inside. Khan is known to live a luxurious life and has several homes in different parts of the world. Now, fans can get a taste of Khan’s lifestyle first hand as his luxury Beverly Hills mansion in Los Angeles, America is up on AirBnb. IPL 2025: Fire breaks out at luxury Hyderabad hotel hosting SRH players - Report In a shocking turn of events, a fire broke out in a luxury hotel in Hyderabad, India, where IPL franchise SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) players were putting up. The incident occurred at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, on Monday (Apr 14) morning. The latest report suggests there were no casualties, and all SRH players were evacuated on time and are safe.

Top 10 world news: Trump insists Russia-Ukraine War ‘not his war’; Blue Origin all-women flight returns to earth, and more

Blue Origin&rsquo;s New Shepard 31 carrying six women has successfully completed its flight with pop icon Katy Perry on board. The all-women crew of the NS-31 have returned to Earth after deploying their parachutes following the historic flight to space.
The flight to space included pilot Lauren Sanchez, film producer Kerianne Flynn, journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-blue-origin-space-craft-jeff-bezos-all-women-crew-gayle-king-lauren-sanchez-8961944">Katy Perry sings 'What a wonderful world' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth</a>
In an X post, Blue Origin confirmed the successful landing of the flight.
&lsquo;Capsule touchdown. Welcome back, NS-31 crew!&rsquo; the company wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9h5elqi-ikjtbanc-sgyfgu11">
Capsule touchdown. Welcome back, NS-31 crew!
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1911776819038306595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/katy-perry-set-to-roar-into-space-on-all-female-flight-8959978">Katy Perry set to roar into space on all-female flight</a>
Minutes earlier, Blue Origin also confirmed the successful landing of the New Shepard booster. About two minutes after liftoff, the booster was set to separate from the crew capsule.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9h5h5hy-dh9okig0-4ahdiayu">
The New Shepard booster has landed!
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1911776029099925868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
The flight marked the first all-women crewed flight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight in 1963.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blue-origins-all-female-glam-crew-is-set-to-launch-today-heres-what-you-need-to-know-8958823">Blue Origin&rsquo;s all-female glam crew is set to launch tomorrow. Here&rsquo;s what you need to know</a>
New Shepard carrying the NS-31 was launched from the company base, 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. The spacecraft reached the K&aacute;rm&aacute;n line, the internationally recognised boundary of space at an altitude of 62 miles.
The flight successfully landed after 10 minutes and 21 seconds in a controlled touchdown at the Blue Origin pad, which is about 2 miles north of the launch site.
Watch | Blue Origin all-female crew to launch into space; Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez ready to get, set, go
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<h2>Who were aboard the New Shepard 31 flight?</h2>
The crew of six women on board Blue Origin&rsquo;s tourism flight included Bezos&rsquo;s fianc&eacute;e, Lauren S&aacute;nchez, a journalist and philanthropist. The first Vietnamese woman to fly to space and a civil rights activist, Amanda Nguyen, was also part of the crew.&nbsp;The CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, and film producer Kerianne Flynn were also aboard the space flight, along with entrepreneur and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

The all-women crew of the NS-31 have returned to Earth after deploying their parachutes following the historic flight to space. SCIENCE & TECH | World

Blue Origin’s New Shepard 31 carrying six women has successfully completed its flight with pop icon Katy Perry on board. The all-women crew of the NS-31 have returned to Earth after deploying their parachutes following the historic flight to space. The flight to space included pilot Lauren Sanchez, film producer Kerianne Flynn, journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe. Also read | Katy Perry sings 'What a wonderful world' on board Blue Origin, kisses the ground on her arrival back to Earth In an X post, Blue Origin confirmed the successful landing of the flight. ‘Capsule touchdown. Welcome back, NS-31 crew!’ the company wrote. Capsule touchdown. Welcome back, NS-31 crew! — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025 Also read | Katy Perry set to roar into space on all-female flight Minutes earlier, Blue Origin also confirmed the successful landing of the New Shepard booster. About two minutes after liftoff, the booster was set to separate from the crew capsule. The New Shepard booster has landed! — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025 The flight marked the first all-women crewed flight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight in 1963. Also read | Blue Origin’s all-female glam crew is set to launch tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know New Shepard carrying the NS-31 was launched from the company base, 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. The spacecraft reached the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space at an altitude of 62 miles. The flight successfully landed after 10 minutes and 21 seconds in a controlled touchdown at the Blue Origin pad, which is about 2 miles north of the launch site. Watch | Blue Origin all-female crew to launch into space; Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez ready to get, set, go Who were aboard the New Shepard 31 flight? The crew of six women on board Blue Origin’s tourism flight included Bezos’s fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, a journalist and philanthropist. The first Vietnamese woman to fly to space and a civil rights activist, Amanda Nguyen, was also part of the crew. The CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, and film producer Kerianne Flynn were also aboard the space flight, along with entrepreneur and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Welcome back, NS-31 crew!’: Blue Origin all-women flight returns to earth after historic achievement

American Pop star Katy Perry  will be part of an all-female group set to reach the edge of space on Monday, riding into the cosmos aboard one of billionaire Jeff Bezos' rockets. Watch in for more details!

Blue Origin all-female crew to launch into space; Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez ready to get, set, go

The historic all-female space flight is set to launch on Monday morning (Apr 14) with pop-star Katy Perry and Gayle King on board Blue Origin&rsquo;s New Shepard 31. The space company&rsquo;s founder and ex-Amazon boss, Jeff Bezos, is also sending his fianc&eacute;e, Lauren S&aacute;nchez, to space along with three other crew members.&nbsp;
The launch is scheduled at 9:30 am from the company base, 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. The spacecraft will fly to reach the K&aacute;rm&aacute;n line, the internationally recognised boundary of space at an altitude of 62 miles. The women will be back after 11 minutes of flight, marking the first all-female space journey since the solo flight of Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/indian-origin-tushar-mehta-joins-jeff-bezoss-blue-origin-on-historic-10th-space-tourism-mission-8757725">Indian-origin Tushar Mehta joins Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin crew on historic 10th space tourism mission</a>
<h2>Who will be on board?</h2>
The crew of six women on board Blue Origin&rsquo;s tourism flight includes Bezos&rsquo;s fianc&eacute;e, Lauren S&aacute;nchez, a journalist and philanthropist. The first Vietnamese woman to fly to space and a civil rights activist, Amanda Nguyen, will also be part of the crew. The CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, and film producer Kerianne Flynn will also be aboard the space flight. Entrepreneur and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe will also join the women.
<h2>New Shepard 31 flight</h2>
About two minutes after liftoff, the New Shepard booster is set to separate from the crew capsule. It will then return in a controlled touchdown at the Blue Origin pad, which is about 2 miles north of the launch site.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-reacts-to-rival-jeff-bezos-blue-origins-launch-8627106">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reacts to rival Jeff Bezos&rsquo; Blue Origin&rsquo;s launch</a>
The women will return after 10 to 11 minutes of flight in a parachute landing in the Texas desert. To prepare for the mission, all six crewmates arrived at the base on Saturday (Apr 12). The women also took part in a photo-op in form-fitting Blue Origin&rsquo;s jumpsuits at the rocket bridge site.
<h2>Special space suits</h2>
Blue Origin designed a special crest on women&rsquo;s space suits featuring their names, works, and ambitions.
Perry&rsquo;s suit features an image of a firework next to her name, referencing her hit 2001 song. Sanchez&rsquo;s includes a fly near her name as a nod to her children&rsquo;s book &ldquo;The Fly Who Flew to Space.&rdquo;
King has a microphone icon to symbolise her work on CBS News, while Nguyen has a symbol of scales of justice for her civil rights advocacy. Flynn has a film reel for her career, and Bowe has a target star as a reference to her passion for STEM.
Apart from enjoying the view, the women have also partnered with various universities and science groups to carry out experiments during their journey to space.
(With inputs from agencies)

About two minutes after liftoff, the New Shepard booster is set to separate from the crew capsule. It will then return in a controlled touchdown at the Blue Origin pad, which is about 2 miles north of the launch site. World | Science & tech | Trending

The historic all-female space flight is set to launch on Monday morning (Apr 14) with pop-star Katy Perry and Gayle King on board Blue Origin’s New Shepard 31. The space company’s founder and ex-Amazon boss, Jeff Bezos, is also sending his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, to space along with three other crew members. The launch is scheduled at 9:30 am from the company base, 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. The spacecraft will fly to reach the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space at an altitude of 62 miles. The women will be back after 11 minutes of flight, marking the first all-female space journey since the solo flight of Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. Also read | Indian-origin Tushar Mehta joins Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin crew on historic 10th space tourism mission Who will be on board? The crew of six women on board Blue Origin’s tourism flight includes Bezos’s fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, a journalist and philanthropist. The first Vietnamese woman to fly to space and a civil rights activist, Amanda Nguyen, will also be part of the crew. The CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, and film producer Kerianne Flynn will also be aboard the space flight. Entrepreneur and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe will also join the women. New Shepard 31 flight About two minutes after liftoff, the New Shepard booster is set to separate from the crew capsule. It will then return in a controlled touchdown at the Blue Origin pad, which is about 2 miles north of the launch site. Also read | SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reacts to rival Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s launch The women will return after 10 to 11 minutes of flight in a parachute landing in the Texas desert. To prepare for the mission, all six crewmates arrived at the base on Saturday (Apr 12). The women also took part in a photo-op in form-fitting Blue Origin’s jumpsuits at the rocket bridge site. Special space suits Blue Origin designed a special crest on women’s space suits featuring their names, works, and ambitions. Perry’s suit features an image of a firework next to her name, referencing her hit 2001 song. Sanchez’s includes a fly near her name as a nod to her children’s book “The Fly Who Flew to Space.” King has a microphone icon to symbolise her work on CBS News, while Nguyen has a symbol of scales of justice for her civil rights advocacy. Flynn has a film reel for her career, and Bowe has a target star as a reference to her passion for STEM. Apart from enjoying the view, the women have also partnered with various universities and science groups to carry out experiments during their journey to space. (With inputs from agencies)

Blue Origin’s all-female glam crew is set to launch tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know

Blue Origin is set to make history with its next spaceflight, featuring an all-woman crew for the first time since 1963. Celebrities like Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, and Gayle King will be aboard the New Shepard spacecraft as it launches from West Texas this spring.

The crew will blast off to space on Blue Origin rocket

Katy Perry is going to space, and she intends to make the trip a glamorous one with her make-up and look perfectly in place. The 40-year-old singer is part of Blue Origin&rsquo;s all-female crewed mission, which takes off on April 14 aboard the New Shepard rocket.
Others joining Perry include Jeff Bezos&rsquo; fianc&eacute;e Lauren S&aacute;nchez, CBS News&rsquo; Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn.&nbsp;
All the women spoke with Elle about their space plans and seem to have one goal in common - they want to take glam up there. &ldquo;Space is going to finally be glam,&rdquo; Perry announced.
&ldquo;We are going to put the &lsquo;ass&rsquo; in astronaut,&rdquo; she added.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/jeff-bezos-and-lauren-sanchez-planning-a-summer-destination-wedding-8830286" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez planning a summer destination wedding: Report</a>
This would be New Shepard's 31st launch and 11th human flight.&nbsp;
<h2>Women intend to be all glam in space</h2>
The women are fully transparent about the fact that they want their makeup, hair and overall look to be in place as they zoom into space. While some might mock them for focussing on beauty on a spaceflight, they themselves find it empowering.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/whats-in-katy-perrys-bag-singer-reveals-weird-beauty-habit-and-one-item-she-stole-from-orlando-bloom-748610" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">What's in Katy Perry's bag? Singer reveals weird beauty habit and one item she stole from Orlando Bloom</a>
The glam quotient is not limited to Sanchez and Perry, but Bowe, who is an aerospace engineer, and Nguyen are all-in and doing test runs to ensure everything stays in place when the rocket takes off.
Bowe said she has always dreamt of going to space. She is testing out her makeup and hair to check if they will stay intact during the launch. Nguyen, who studied astrophysics at Harvard, said she will be wearing lipstick.
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s so important for people to see us like that,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This dichotomy of engineer and scientist, and then beauty and fashion. We contain multitudes. Women are multitudes.&rdquo;
She added, "The idea of the women looking their best for the flight as a show of female empowerment."
Meanwhile, King was worried about her "lash extensions" surviving the blast-off, to which Sanchez said, "Mine are glued on. They&rsquo;re good."
<h2>Special items in space</h2>
All of the women will also be taking something special with them. Bowe said she is carrying the Apollo 12 mission flag that was taken to the moon. While King is taking some music with her, Sanchez will have a stuffed animal from her children's book &nbsp;&ldquo;The Fly Who Flew to Space."
With Perry in tow, how could there not be any singing? She said in the interview that there would definitely be some crooning in space.&nbsp;
The women will also be carrying out a few experiments during their 11 minutes in space.

Blue Origin’s all-female crewed mission will be a glamorous affair as the ladies have promised to glam up space with their style and beauty. Science & Tech Trending

Katy Perry is going to space, and she intends to make the trip a glamorous one with her make-up and look perfectly in place. The 40-year-old singer is part of Blue Origin’s all-female crewed mission, which takes off on April 14 aboard the New Shepard rocket. Others joining Perry include Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, CBS News’ Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn. All the women spoke with Elle about their space plans and seem to have one goal in common - they want to take glam up there. “Space is going to finally be glam,” Perry announced. “We are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut,” she added. Also Read: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez planning a summer destination wedding: Report This would be New Shepard's 31st launch and 11th human flight. Women intend to be all glam in space The women are fully transparent about the fact that they want their makeup, hair and overall look to be in place as they zoom into space. While some might mock them for focussing on beauty on a spaceflight, they themselves find it empowering. Also Read: What's in Katy Perry's bag? Singer reveals weird beauty habit and one item she stole from Orlando Bloom The glam quotient is not limited to Sanchez and Perry, but Bowe, who is an aerospace engineer, and Nguyen are all-in and doing test runs to ensure everything stays in place when the rocket takes off. Bowe said she has always dreamt of going to space. She is testing out her makeup and hair to check if they will stay intact during the launch. Nguyen, who studied astrophysics at Harvard, said she will be wearing lipstick. “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.” She added, "The idea of the women looking their best for the flight as a show of female empowerment." Meanwhile, King was worried about her "lash extensions" surviving the blast-off, to which Sanchez said, "Mine are glued on. They’re good." Special items in space All of the women will also be taking something special with them. Bowe said she is carrying the Apollo 12 mission flag that was taken to the moon. While King is taking some music with her, Sanchez will have a stuffed animal from her children's book “The Fly Who Flew to Space." With Perry in tow, how could there not be any singing? She said in the interview that there would definitely be some crooning in space. The women will also be carrying out a few experiments during their 11 minutes in space.

Katy Perry and her crew promise to put the ‘a**’ in astronaut in a 'glam' space trip

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has reacted to the debut launch of a rocket by Blue Origin, the rival space company owned by Jeff Bezos, on Thursday (Jan 16).
Musk congratulated Bezos for his new milestone after Blue Origin launched its New Glenn into orbit for the first time.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-makes-its-debut-launch-of-new-glenn-rocket-8626251" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watch: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin makes debut launch of New Glenn rocket</a>
&ldquo;Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt! @JeffBezos,&rdquo; Musk wrote on his X platform shortly after Bezos confirmed the successful launch on Thursday (Jan 16).
<h2>SpaceX vs Blue Origin</h2>
The New Glenn launch was crucial for Blue Origin to compete with its rival SpaceX, the private space company owned by Musk, which dominates the industry.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/elon-musks-spacex-launches-two-private-lunar-landers-aboard-falcon-9-8623630" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX launches two private lunar landers aboard Falcon 9</a>
A day earlier, on January 15, Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX launched two private lunar landers. The landers built by US and Japanese companies left the Earth aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as a part of a rideshare to the Moon.
The SpaceX rocket was launched from NASA&rsquo;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida around 01:00 local time on Wednesday (Jan 15), carrying two landers, one from America's Firefly Aerospace and the other from Japan's iSpace.
The Moon exploration mission is backed by NASA and will be its biggest commercial delivery to the Earth&rsquo;s natural satellite so far.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/why-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-called-off-new-glenn-rocket-launch-8618749" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Few anomalies': Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin calls off rocket launch</a>
Meanwhile, Blue Origin has also secured a NASA contract for the launch of two Mars probes aboard New Glenn. The rocket will also deploy Project Kuiper, a satellite internet constellation that will compete with SpaceX&rsquo;s Starlink.
<h2>New Glenn launch</h2>
The debut mission, which was previously delayed by several years, blasted off at 2:03 am (07:03 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in the US state of Florida.
The initial test launch, which was originally scheduled for Monday (Jan 13), was postponed until today after facing repeated pauses during the countdown. The company later cited an icing issue on a purge line for the delay and said that they would attempt the launch on Tuesday (Jan 14). However, the weather conditions were unfavourable on the day, which led to further delay.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/isro-accomplishes-space-docking-india-fifth-nation-to-do-so-globally-8625833" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">ISRO's SpaDeX Mission successful: India becomes 4th nation to accomplish space docking</a>
Blue Origin will also attempt to land New Glenn's first-stage booster on a drone ship, which is stationed about 620 miles (1,000 kilometres) away from the launch site in the Atlantic Ocean.
While these types of landings are a usual routine for SpaceX, Blue Origin will be making its first attempt at it.
(With inputs from agencies)

Science & Tech | The New Glenn launch was crucial for Blue Origin to compete with its rival SpaceX, the private space company owned by Musk, which dominates the industry.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has reacted to the debut launch of a rocket by Blue Origin, the rival space company owned by Jeff Bezos, on Thursday (Jan 16). Musk congratulated Bezos for his new milestone after Blue Origin launched its New Glenn into orbit for the first time. Also read | Watch: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin makes debut launch of New Glenn rocket “Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt! @JeffBezos,” Musk wrote on his X platform shortly after Bezos confirmed the successful launch on Thursday (Jan 16). SpaceX vs Blue Origin The New Glenn launch was crucial for Blue Origin to compete with its rival SpaceX, the private space company owned by Musk, which dominates the industry. Also read | Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches two private lunar landers aboard Falcon 9 A day earlier, on January 15, Musk’s SpaceX launched two private lunar landers. The landers built by US and Japanese companies left the Earth aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as a part of a rideshare to the Moon. The SpaceX rocket was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida around 01:00 local time on Wednesday (Jan 15), carrying two landers, one from America's Firefly Aerospace and the other from Japan's iSpace. The Moon exploration mission is backed by NASA and will be its biggest commercial delivery to the Earth’s natural satellite so far. Also read | 'Few anomalies': Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin calls off rocket launch Meanwhile, Blue Origin has also secured a NASA contract for the launch of two Mars probes aboard New Glenn. The rocket will also deploy Project Kuiper, a satellite internet constellation that will compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. New Glenn launch The debut mission, which was previously delayed by several years, blasted off at 2:03 am (07:03 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in the US state of Florida. The initial test launch, which was originally scheduled for Monday (Jan 13), was postponed until today after facing repeated pauses during the countdown. The company later cited an icing issue on a purge line for the delay and said that they would attempt the launch on Tuesday (Jan 14). However, the weather conditions were unfavourable on the day, which led to further delay. Also read | ISRO's SpaDeX Mission successful: India becomes 4th nation to accomplish space docking Blue Origin will also attempt to land New Glenn's first-stage booster on a drone ship, which is stationed about 620 miles (1,000 kilometres) away from the launch site in the Atlantic Ocean. While these types of landings are a usual routine for SpaceX, Blue Origin will be making its first attempt at it. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reacts to rival Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s launch

Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, postponed the much-anticipated maiden launch of its New Glenn rocket on Monday (Jan 13) due to last-minute technical problems. The launch, scheduled for 08:15 GMT, was called off just six minutes before the liftoff.
<h2>Timeline of what happened?</h2>
The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blue-origin-poised-for-first-orbital-launch-on-january-8">New Glenn rocket</a>, which has been developing for a decade, was set to launch from Florida during a three-hour window that opened at 06:00 GMT (01:00 local time). Earlier attempts had already been delayed due to unfavourable sea conditions.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-yoon-gets-pay-rise-despite-facing-impeachment-trial-8618647">South Korea's Yoon gets pay rise despite facing impeachment trial</a>
This mission was a significant milestone for Blue Origin, as the rocket was expected to reach orbit for the first time. Additionally, its reusable booster was designed to detach and land on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean.
Blue Origin describes New Glenn as a "giant, reusable rocket" designed for human space travel. However, at approximately 07:20 GMT, a spokesperson reported "a few anomalies" the team was working to resolve. 
Following several countdown resets, the decision was made to cancel the launch for the day. 
A Blue Origin spokesperson cited a "vehicle subsystem issue" as the reason for the delay, explaining that additional time was needed to troubleshoot the problem. A new date for the launch has not yet been announced.
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<h2>Why was the launch called off?</h2>
Blue Origin posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re standing down on today&rsquo;s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window. We&rsquo;re reviewing opportunities for our next launch attempt.&rdquo;
During a live stream, a Blue Origin spokeswoman said that the postponement was necessary to give the team more time to address the technical issues. She added, &ldquo;When we know when the next opportunity is, of course, we will let everybody know.&rdquo;
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Earlier in the scheduled launch period, she explained that engineers were &ldquo;working through a few anomalies&rdquo; and controllers were exploring possible solutions. 
She said, &ldquo;What people may not realise is that much of what we do in pre-launch procedures is scripted and planned. However, when unexpected issues arise, our team manually operates the systems to resolve them.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

Science & Tech, World Blue Origin posted a statement on X , saying, “We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window.”

Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, postponed the much-anticipated maiden launch of its New Glenn rocket on Monday (Jan 13) due to last-minute technical problems. The launch, scheduled for 08:15 GMT, was called off just six minutes before the liftoff. Timeline of what happened? The New Glenn rocket, which has been developing for a decade, was set to launch from Florida during a three-hour window that opened at 06:00 GMT (01:00 local time). Earlier attempts had already been delayed due to unfavourable sea conditions. Also read: South Korea's Yoon gets pay rise despite facing impeachment trial This mission was a significant milestone for Blue Origin, as the rocket was expected to reach orbit for the first time. Additionally, its reusable booster was designed to detach and land on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean. Blue Origin describes New Glenn as a "giant, reusable rocket" designed for human space travel. However, at approximately 07:20 GMT, a spokesperson reported "a few anomalies" the team was working to resolve. Following several countdown resets, the decision was made to cancel the launch for the day. A Blue Origin spokesperson cited a "vehicle subsystem issue" as the reason for the delay, explaining that additional time was needed to troubleshoot the problem. A new date for the launch has not yet been announced. Also read: On possible Trump-Putin meeting, Kremlin says there's 'political will' for dialogue Why was the launch called off? Blue Origin posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window. We’re reviewing opportunities for our next launch attempt.” During a live stream, a Blue Origin spokeswoman said that the postponement was necessary to give the team more time to address the technical issues. She added, “When we know when the next opportunity is, of course, we will let everybody know.” Also read: Israel denies receiving Gaza ceasefire proposal despite Qatar saying it shared 'final' hostage deal draft Earlier in the scheduled launch period, she explained that engineers were “working through a few anomalies” and controllers were exploring possible solutions. She said, “What people may not realise is that much of what we do in pre-launch procedures is scripted and planned. However, when unexpected issues arise, our team manually operates the systems to resolve them.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Few anomalies': Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin calls off rocket launch

Blue Origin is all set to launch its New Glenn rocket for the first time. The flight will take place from Florida on January 8. Watch this report for more details!

Blue Origin poised for first orbital launch on January 8

Blue Origin Is Preparing To Launch New Glenn From Florida

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