This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8e5gq8ljo

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Katy Perry blasts off with all-women crew on Blue Origin rocket Katy Perry back on Earth after reaching space
(31 minutes later)
Six women, including Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos's fiancée Lauren Sanchez, are due to launch into space for an 11-minute flight.Six women, including Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos's fiancée Lauren Sanchez, are due to launch into space for an 11-minute flight.
Pop star Katy Perry and five other women are set to blast into space aboard Jeff Bezos' space tourism rocket. Pop star Katy Perry and five other women safely returned to Earth after reaching space aboard Jeff Bezos' rocket.
The singer will be joined by Bezos's fiancée Lauren Sánchez and CBS presenter Gayle King. The singer was joined by Bezos's fiancée Lauren Sánchez and CBS presenter Gayle King, who said a highlight of the flight was hearing Mrs Perry sing Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".
The New Shepard rocket is due to lift off from its West Texas launch site and the launch window opens at 08:30 local time (14:30 BST). You'll be able to follow the launch live here on the BBC website. The New Shepard rocket lifted off from its West Texas launch site just after 08:30 local time (14:30 BST).
The flight will last around 11 minutes and take the crew more than 100km (62 miles) above Earth, crossing the internationally recognised boundary of space and giving the crew a few moments of weightlessness. The flight lasted around 11 minutes and took the six women than 100km (62 miles) above Earth, crossing the internationally recognised boundary of space and giving them a few moments of weightlessness.
Also on board are former Nasa rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Also on board were former Nasa rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The spacecraft is fully autonomous, requiring no pilots, and the crew will not manually operate the vehicle. The capsule returned to Earth with a parachute-assisted soft landing, while the rocket booster also landed back in Texas.
The capsule will return to Earth with a parachute-assisted soft landing, while the rocket booster will land itself around two miles away from the launch site. Cheering could be heard from inside the capsule as the recovery crew went to collect them.
"If you had told me that I would be part of the first-ever all-female crew in space, I would have believed you. Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child. Although we didn't grow up with much, I never stopped looking at the world with hopeful WONDER!" Mrs Perry said in a social media post. Jeff Bezos opened the capsule door to welcome back Lauren Sánchez, the first to disembark.
"I'm so proud of this crew," she said tearfully. "I can't put it into words."
She paused, before adding: "I looked out of the window and we got to see the moon."
"Earth looked so quiet," she said, adding that it was not what she expected. "It was quiet, but really alive."
Next out was Katy Perry, who kissed the ground and lifted a daisy to the sky - her daughter is called Daisy.
Gayle King also got on her knees and kissed the ground.
"I just want to have a moment with the ground, just appreciate the ground for just a second," she said.
The last to get out, Kerianne Flynn, pointed at the sky and shouted: "I went to space."
A celebrity cast had watched the launch from the ground.
Speaking from the viewing platform, Khloé Kardashian said: "I didn't realise how emotional it would be, it's hard to explain. I have all this adrenaline and I'm just standing here."
The spacecraft was fully autonomous, requiring no pilots, and the crew did not manually operate the vehicle.
"If you had told me that I would be part of the first-ever all-female crew in space, I would have believed you. Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child. Although we didn't grow up with much, I never stopped looking at the world with hopeful WONDER!" Mrs Perry said in a social media post prior to the launch.
Blue Origin says the last all-female spaceflight was over 60 years ago when Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space on a solo mission aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6.Blue Origin says the last all-female spaceflight was over 60 years ago when Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space on a solo mission aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6.
Since then, there have been no other all-female spaceflights but women have made numerous significant contributions.Since then, there have been no other all-female spaceflights but women have made numerous significant contributions.
Katy Perry gave her followers a sneak peek of the capsule she's training to launch aboard the New Shepard, all while in her spacesuit.
She revealed her call sign as "Feather" and showed where her fellow astronauts – the "Taking Up Space" crew – would be and expressed her excitement about singing in space.
Blue Origin is a private space company founded in 2000 by Bezos, the billionaire entrepreneur who also started Amazon.Blue Origin is a private space company founded in 2000 by Bezos, the billionaire entrepreneur who also started Amazon.
Although Blue Origin has not released full ticket prices, a $150,000 (£114,575.85) deposit is required to reserve a seat—underlining the exclusivity of these early flights.Although Blue Origin has not released full ticket prices, a $150,000 (£114,575.85) deposit is required to reserve a seat—underlining the exclusivity of these early flights.
Alongside its suborbital tourism business, the company is also developing long-term space infrastructure, including reusable rockets and lunar landing systems.Alongside its suborbital tourism business, the company is also developing long-term space infrastructure, including reusable rockets and lunar landing systems.
The New Shepard rocket is designed to be fully reusable and its booster returns to the launch pad for vertical landings after each flight, reducing overall costs.The New Shepard rocket is designed to be fully reusable and its booster returns to the launch pad for vertical landings after each flight, reducing overall costs.
According to US law, astronauts must complete comprehensive training for their specific roles.According to US law, astronauts must complete comprehensive training for their specific roles.
Blue Origin says its New Shepard passengers are trained over two days with a focus on physical fitness, emergency protocols, details about the safety measures and procedures for zero gravity.Blue Origin says its New Shepard passengers are trained over two days with a focus on physical fitness, emergency protocols, details about the safety measures and procedures for zero gravity.
Additionally, there are two support members referred to as Crew Member Seven: one provides continuous guidance to astronauts, while the other maintains communication from the control room during the mission.Additionally, there are two support members referred to as Crew Member Seven: one provides continuous guidance to astronauts, while the other maintains communication from the control room during the mission.
The rise of space tourism has prompted criticism that it is too exclusive and environmentally damaging.The rise of space tourism has prompted criticism that it is too exclusive and environmentally damaging.
Supporters argue that private companies are accelerating innovation and making space more accessible.Supporters argue that private companies are accelerating innovation and making space more accessible.
Professor Brian Cox told the BBC in 2024: "Our civilisation needs to expand beyond our planet for so many reasons," and believes that collaboration between NASA and commercial firms is a positive step.Professor Brian Cox told the BBC in 2024: "Our civilisation needs to expand beyond our planet for so many reasons," and believes that collaboration between NASA and commercial firms is a positive step.
Rocket engine exhaust contains gases and particles that can affect Earth's climate and ozone layer.Rocket engine exhaust contains gases and particles that can affect Earth's climate and ozone layer.
On its web page under the title "Protecting our Planet" Blue Origin claims "During flight, the only byproduct of New Shepard's engine combustion is water vapor with no carbon emissions."On its web page under the title "Protecting our Planet" Blue Origin claims "During flight, the only byproduct of New Shepard's engine combustion is water vapor with no carbon emissions."
However, Eloise Marais, a professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality at University College London points out that anything that combusts at a higher temperature turns nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrogen oxides, which are planet-warming greenhouse gases. However, Eloise Marais, a professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality at University College London points out that water vapour too is a greenhouse gas and is a chemical that is not supposed to be in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
She also points out that water vapour too is a greenhouse gas and is a chemical that is not supposed to be in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
"It alters the chemistry of the stratosphere, depleting the ozone layer, and also forms clouds that affect climate," she says."It alters the chemistry of the stratosphere, depleting the ozone layer, and also forms clouds that affect climate," she says.
Experts say that as more and more rockets are launched, the risks of harming the ozone layer increases.Experts say that as more and more rockets are launched, the risks of harming the ozone layer increases.
High-cost tourismHigh-cost tourism
The high cost of space tourism makes it inaccessible to most people, with these expensive missions out of reach for the majority.The high cost of space tourism makes it inaccessible to most people, with these expensive missions out of reach for the majority.
Critics, including actress Olivia Munn, questioned the optics of this particular venture, remarking "there's a lot of people who can't even afford eggs," during an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends.Critics, including actress Olivia Munn, questioned the optics of this particular venture, remarking "there's a lot of people who can't even afford eggs," during an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends.
Astronaut Tim Peake has defended the value of human space travel, especially in relation to tackling global issues such as climate change.Astronaut Tim Peake has defended the value of human space travel, especially in relation to tackling global issues such as climate change.
At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Peake voiced his disappointment that space exploration was increasingly seen as a pursuit for the wealthy, stating: "I personally am a fan of using space for science and for the benefit of everybody back on Earth, so in that respect, I feel disappointed that space is being tarred with that brush."At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Peake voiced his disappointment that space exploration was increasingly seen as a pursuit for the wealthy, stating: "I personally am a fan of using space for science and for the benefit of everybody back on Earth, so in that respect, I feel disappointed that space is being tarred with that brush."
Watch Blue Origin's Last Spaceflight on the New Shepard RocketWatch Blue Origin's Last Spaceflight on the New Shepard Rocket
Watch: Blue Origin's tenth human space mission blast offWatch: Blue Origin's tenth human space mission blast off
Additonal reporting by Victoria Gill and Kate Stephens, BBC Climate and Science.Additonal reporting by Victoria Gill and Kate Stephens, BBC Climate and Science.