Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and actress, Alicia Keys, is set to make history as she joins the first all-women flight crew of Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company, Blue Origin. The news was announced on July 1st, 2021, and has already sparked excitement and anticipation among fans and space enthusiasts alike.
The 15-time Grammy Award winner will be part of the crew for Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, which is set to launch on July 20th, 2021. This will be the company’s first crewed flight and will mark a significant milestone in the field of space exploration. The flight will also coincide with the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, making it a truly special and memorable event.
Alicia Keys, known for her powerful vocals and soulful music, will now add another feather to her cap as she ventures into space. In a statement, she expressed her excitement and gratitude for being chosen as part of the all-women crew. She said, “I am beyond thrilled to be joining the first all-women crew for Blue Origin’s historic flight. As an artist, I am always looking for ways to push boundaries and explore new frontiers, and this opportunity is a dream come true.”
The flight will also include three other remarkable women, including Wally Funk, an 82-year-old pilot who was part of the Mercury 13 program in the 1960s but was denied the opportunity to go to space due to her gender. She will now become the oldest person to ever fly to space. The other two crew members are Blue Origin’s vice president of sales, Audrey Powers, and 18-year-old physics student, Oliver Daemen, who will become the youngest person to ever fly to space.
The all-women crew is a significant step towards promoting gender equality and diversity in the field of space exploration. It also highlights the growing role of women in STEM fields and their contributions to the advancement of technology and science. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, stated, “We are thrilled to have Alicia Keys join our first all-women crew. This is a historic moment, and we hope it will inspire more women to pursue careers in STEM and explore the wonders of space.”
Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft is designed to take passengers on a suborbital journey, reaching an altitude of about 100 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The crew will experience weightlessness and get a breathtaking view of the Earth before returning back to the ground. The spacecraft is fully autonomous, and the crew will not require any specialized training to operate it.
The news of Alicia Keys joining the all-women crew has generated a lot of buzz on social media, with fans and celebrities congratulating her on this incredible opportunity. Many have also expressed their excitement and support for the growing trend of private space exploration, which is making space travel more accessible to the general public.
This is not the first time that a celebrity has ventured into space. In 2002, NSYNC member Lance Bass was set to become the youngest person to fly to space, but the mission was canceled due to financial reasons. In 2008, Cirque du Soleil founder, Guy Laliberté, became the first Canadian space tourist to visit the International Space Station. However, Alicia Keys will be the first celebrity to join a private space company’s crew and make history as part of the first all-women flight.
As we look forward to this historic event, it is a reminder of the endless possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead in the field of space exploration. It also serves as a reminder to never stop dreaming and to always push the boundaries of what is possible. Alicia Keys’ journey to space is a testament to this, and we can’t wait to see her soar to new heights on July 20th.
