Pop icon Katy Perry is preparing for a historic leap—this time, not on stage, but into space. The superstar gave fans a first-ever glimpse inside the Blue Origin space capsule set to carry her and five other pioneering women beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Joining Perry on the mission are author Lauren Sanchez, journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, ex-NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn. The six-woman crew is scheduled to launch aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spaceflight within hours. Though brief, the journey will officially count as space travel once they surpass the 100km Kármán line.
Despite the excitement, resurfacing concerns have sparked fear among fans. A 2021 whistleblower letter, signed by 21 current and former Blue Origin employees, cast doubts on the safety of the rocket system. “Blue Origin has been lucky nothing has happened so far,” one engineer claimed in the letter published by Business Insider. The employees emphasized they wouldn’t personally fly on a Blue Origin craft, citing structural and safety concerns.
Blue Origin responded to the claims by asserting their confidence in the New Shepard spacecraft, stating, “We stand by our safety record and believe that New Shepard is the safest space vehicle ever designed or built.”
However, history hasn’t been flawless. In August 2022, a New Shepard flight was grounded after an unmanned rocket suffered an engine nozzle failure. The capsule had to abort mid-flight and landed safely via parachute.
Fans have expressed growing unease online. “Is anyone else getting Titanic submersible vibes?” one commenter posted, while another admitted, “Something doesn’t feel right—I’m worried for her.”
Despite the worries, Perry remains optimistic. Sharing an Instagram video from space training, she showed off the sleek capsule interior and introduced her “astronaut girly friends.” The artist, known for her cosmic-themed hits, beamed with excitement, saying, “I think I’m gonna sing. I’ve got to sing in space!”
In a heartfelt moment, Perry revealed a deeply personal connection to the capsule. “When I saw the feather on the front, I knew it was meant to be—my mom always calls me Feather,” she said. “Then I found out the capsule’s name is Tortoise—another one of my nicknames from her. What are the odds?”
Perry described the symbolism as a “cosmic confirmation,” adding: “There are no coincidences. I’m so grateful for these signs. It feels like something bigger than me is steering the ship.”
The mission will mark Blue Origin’s 11th human flight since its first successful launch in 2021. With NASA contracts already in hand and more missions on the horizon, the space tourism race is accelerating fast. For Perry, this is more than a flight—it’s a journey into destiny.