Katy Perry joins all‑female crew for edge-of-space journey
Hours remain until the launch of six women who will journey into space aboard a Blue Origin rocket. Among the first all-female crew to cross the Kármán line will be Katy Perry. But does this mean they can be considered astronauts?
The six women will travel to the "edge of space" aboard the Blue Origin rocket. This flight will mark the first historic journey with a fully female crew. The launch is scheduled for April 14, with the launch window opening around 11:30 AM Eastern Time. The New Shepard Mission NS-31 includes Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Kerianne Flynn, Gayle King, and Amanda Nguyen, with popular singer Katy Perry completing the crew. They are expected to ascend to the boundary known as the Kármán line.
Where Earth ends and space begins
Although the crew will remain in space for only about 10 minutes, experiencing a brief moment of weightlessness, it is enough for them to be recognized as astronauts under international law. Why? One only needs to exceed an altitude of 62 miles above sea level (in the USA – 50 miles). Reaching this boundary is referred to as the Kármán line, the conventional boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space.
The definition is based on the assumption that above this line, traditional lift ceases to function, and staying in space requires orbital velocity (about 4.8 miles/s according to scientists). When does this happen? As the spacecraft launches and ascends through the atmosphere towards the stratosphere, gases surrounding it gradually thin, providing less lift. To avoid stopping, the machine must accelerate. At a certain point, it reaches the speed needed to maintain space travel, equivalent to that needed to orbit Earth.
The official beginning of space according to the International Aeronautical Federation
The name comes from Theodore von Kármán, a Hungarian-American engineer who examined aerodynamic conditions at high altitudes. This symbolic boundary is recognized by the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) as the official beginning of space, facilitating the classification of missions, distinguishing between suborbital and orbital flights. The legal aspect changes too: above the Kármán line, space law applies (including the prohibition of territorial claims by states), while below it, aviation law is applicable.
The first object to cross this boundary was the German V2 rocket during tests in the 1940s.
The Blue Origin rocket is a reusable carrier with a crew capsule that cannot orbit Earth but ascends above the Kármán line. These missions last about 10 minutes, during which passengers experience approximately 4 minutes of weightlessness and enjoy views of Earth from space through the large New Shepard windows, as reported by Blue Origin.
The Blue Origin rocket will provide the crew with 10 minutes in space
There are no pilots on board Blue Origin rockets, as their flights are fully autonomous. Missions organized by Blue Origin are not new to celebrities—actor William Shatner and former NFL player Michael Strahan have previously participated in them.
