Blue Origin’s Upcoming Launch Is by Far the Most Annoying Private Mission Yet

Private spaceflight is entering its peak cringe era with the upcoming launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, sending a crew that includes a fallen-off pop star and Jeff Bezos’ partner to the edge of space. Blue Origin has set a date for its next private mission, which will launch a crew of six private astronauts on board the company’s New Shepard rocket. NS-31, Blue Origin’s 11th crewed mission, is set for liftoff on Monday, April 14 from Launch Site One in West Texas, the company announced on Thursday. The mission will launch an all-female crew that includes singer Katy Perry, TV personality and Oprah’s bestie, Gayle King, and Bezos’s fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Also on board will be former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. While some of the crew members make sense, the rest are flashy add-ons to a rather expensive trip to suborbital heights where, spoiler alert, they’re just going to float around for about two ... Read full article.