Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Katy Perry's Spaceflight: Here's The Cost Of A Seat On Blue Origin's Space Ride; Everything You Need To Know
Pop star Katy Perry recently made headlines by boarding a Blue Origin rocket and flying to the edge of space with an all-female crew, which included Jeff Bezos's fiancée Lauren Sanchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, CBS host Gayle King, scientist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Katy Perry's spaceflight has received global attention, and many are wondering if anyone can travel to space and how much space travel actually costs.
Katy Perry's SpaceFlight with Blue Origin
On Monday, April 14, Katy Perry joined a historic all-women space mission aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, a reusable rocket designed for suborbital flights which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The Blue Origin rocket reached the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, which gives the passengers a few minutes of weightlessness and a breathtaking view of Earth before returning safely.
How Much Does a Blue Origin Space Flight Cost?
Now the big question is, what does it cost to go to space like Katy Perry? Well, as per reports, Blue Origin has not declared any exact ticket price; estimates suggest the cost of a seat ranges from USD 250,000 to USD 475,000, which in Indian rupees is 2-4 crores. As per the Blue Origin's website, if someone wants to reserve a seat for the spaceflight, they have to pay a refundable deposit of USD 150,000.
In some rare cases, like Katy Perry's, celebrities and influencers may be offered free or sponsored spaceflights to bring attention to the programme. For the average individual, however, the price tag remains sky-high.
Can Anyone Travel to Space?
Technically yes , but financially, not quite yet, as Blue Origin's flights are open to the public but at a very high price point which is unaffordable for common people. Space travel is currently limited to the ultra-rich, celebrities who have an abundance to spend, and invited guests. For taking spaceflight, no advanced training is required. All that passengers need to do is to go through a brief pre-flight orientation and safety drill.
For this type of space travel , medical restrictions are very few or minimal, which makes it even more accessible than traditional astronaut programmes. In space flights like these passengers enjoy a total flight time of 11 minutes after reaching over 100 km altitude, which can give the experience of weightlessness for 3-4 minutes. This suborbital flight experience offers a taste of space without the time or cost of a full orbital mission like those offered by SpaceX, as per reports.
There are many companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic who are offering the commercial spaceflight programmes. With the advancement in technology in recent times, we can expect the cost of space travel to decrease, which will allow common people to go for space tourism in the coming years.
Criticism and Public Reaction
While many celebrated Katy Perry's space adventure, some critics have called out space tourism as elitist and performative, pointing out that these short flights offer little scientific value. Some have called the spaceflight fake and a PR activity.
Sign in with Google