Stars Weigh in on Going to Space

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself sharing the sentiments of Olivia Munn and many others who aren’t entirely thrilled about the imminent high-profile Blue Origin space voyage. While the prospect of space travel is undeniably intriguing, there are valid concerns regarding the implications for our planet and resources that warrant thoughtful discussion.

What are you all planning to do in space? Isn’t it a bit extravagant that so much money is spent going to space when many people can barely afford basic necessities like food?

Well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, Munn.

Notable personalities have expressed their encouragement for the project where Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, pilot Lauren Sanchez, along with Katy Perry, Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, will embark on a space voyage.

Initially, Gayle, it’s important that you don’t undo your safety belt until they give you the signal to do so, as Tom Hanks, the star of Apollo 13 and host of From the Earth to the Moon, emphasized in a video message for King during CBS Mornings on April 9. Once you can, make your way towards a window quickly and stay there as long as you can.

After King came back to Earth, Drew Barrymore couldn’t wait to learn more, so she expressed her enthusiasm by saying, “Good luck! I can hardly wait to chat with you when you’re home. See you later!

On Instagram, Viola Davis and Jessica Seinfeld expressed appreciation for an Elle magazine cover showcasing a six-woman spaceflight crew (the first all-female team since 1963, according to Blue Origin). Meanwhile, Scooter Braun showed admiration with a raised hand gesture, and jewelry designer Jen Meyer found the mission “incredible.

Munn isn’t against space travel in principle, but she questions the purpose of this specific journey, which is planned to last around 11 minutes and reach approximately 65 miles above Earth. Her curiosity revolves around what beneficial outcomes will be achieved from this trip that could improve our lives on Earth.

However, she is not alone in expressing unique perspectives about venturing into territories that are less explored by many.

Discover the thoughts of Lance Bass, who nearly embarked, and William Shatner, who actually journeyed, as well as Cameron Diaz, Kim Kardashian, and Prince William – who politely declined – on their perspectives regarding space travel.

Gayle King expressed, during an appearance on CBS Mornings in February, that she found it challenging to express feeling both petrified and thrilled simultaneously. She likened the sensation to anticipating the birth of a child: “It’s similar to how I felt just before delivering a baby.

The 70-year-old cohost expressed that she wanted to embrace fresh experiences and venture beyond her usual boundaries, and she sought advice from her close circle, which included her sons and Oprah Winfrey, before agreeing to embark on this journey.

King further agreed, stating, “Once Kirby, Will, and Oprah were on board, so was I. I initially thought Oprah might object, but she surprised me by saying, ‘If you don’t take this opportunity now, when they all return and you had the chance to do it, you will regret it.’ She was correct.

Katy Perry expressed to Elle magazine, prior to her flight with Blue Origin alongside Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn, that she found herself pondering, “What should I wear for this space adventure?” However, in all sincerity, she has harbored a desire to journey into space for nearly two decades. She was actively exploring commercial avenues for this endeavor. Even when Blue Origin initially discussed commercial travel to space, Katy exclaimed, “Count me in! I’m at the front of the line.

Back in 2010, I myself splurged on a whopping $200,000 ticket to embark on a suborbital journey with Virgin Galactic, an exciting venture I eagerly awaited to take flight.

During that period, the ‘E.T.’ singer expressed her fascination with outer space topics. She finds it hard not to ponder the insignificance of Earth amidst potentially billions of other planets when gazing at the night sky. She, along with Russell (her then-husband), have a keen interest in all things extraterrestrial. In fact, they are eagerly anticipating their journey into space.” (Katy Perry and Russell Brand separated in 2011.)

As her Blue Origin trip in 2025 drew nearer, the 40-year-old expressed to Elle, “I don’t have any room for nervousness or worries; I simply can’t afford them. Until they countdown from ’10 to 1,’ there are things to do and matters to attend to.

As a lifestyle expert, I can confidently say that space is about to become the epitome of glamour. If given the chance, I would elevate its style quotient significantly. We are going to redefine what it means to be an astronaut, making it chic and stylish in every way possible.

At the age of 90, William Shatner embarked on a space journey aboard a Blue Origin rocket in the year 2021. Once they had reached their destination, the Star Trek veteran hastened (as swiftly as floating in zero gravity was possible) to the window.

In his book, “Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder,” co-authored with Josh Brandon, Shatner recounted seeing an unfathomable void upon his return. He described it as an extreme darkness unlike anything experienced on Earth, a profound, enveloping, all-consuming blackness. As he gazed back towards the light of home, he could see the curvature of Earth, the beige deserts, the white clouds, and the blue sky – symbols of life. He saw it as nurturing, sustaining, and essential. To him, it was Mother Earth, Gaia, and he felt a pang as he left her behind.

“Everything I had thought was wrong. Everything I had expected to see was wrong.”

Shatner found his appreciation for Earth growing even stronger as a result. In his own words, “This experience intensified my belief in the extraordinary, enigmatic bond that unites us all as humans, and ultimately, it rekindled a sense of optimism within me.

Expressing well wishes for the King’s upcoming Blue Origin voyage, Shatner stated in a recorded message, “This is an unforgettable experience. Something completely new and unique that you’ll never have another chance to do. Cherish the ride.

In 2002, Lance Bass embarked on training to travel to space. He synchronized himself with a Russian crew as part of this process. This arrangement was made by a Dutch-based space tourism company called MirCorp, who purchased a $20 million seat for the former boy band member aboard a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station, along with a documentary crew.

But there was an insurance issue a week before launch, and Bass didn’t get to go.

If a documentary isn’t available, there won’t be a flight, and I must say, I was extremely let down about it,” he shared with Space.com in 2023, “However, it was still awe-inspiring to complete the training.

Previously a member of the band ‘NSYNC‘, he expressed his wish to visit the International Space Station someday, but he’s not inclined towards taking a brief trip aboard a Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic suborbital spacecraft.

Michael Strahan described his journey to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket in December 2021 as feeling remarkably similar to having an out-of-body sensation.

He expressed to Amy Robach, his fellow ABC News colleague at the time, that it was difficult to accept the event had occurred. It was as if he felt weightless, similar to when the booster and rocket launch, detaching from one another, leaving him unsure of what’s up or down. His body instinctively moved in response, and he found himself unbuckling his seatbelt, all of which felt surprisingly normal under such extraordinary circumstances.

In March 2022, Pete Davidson, who was dating Kim Kardashian at that time, agreed to a free invitation to travel alongside five paying customers on the New Shepard rocket. However, when the flight got postponed, he unfortunately couldn’t participate due to his schedule.

According to a representative from Blue Origin, Pete Davidson regrettably won’t be part of the NS-20 team for this particular space voyage. They plan to reveal the identity of the sixth crew member soon.

Initially, Kardashian had expressed apprehension upon learning that he was due to depart, as she recollected witnessing her parents crying in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated, an event that initially caused her unease.

On ‘The Kardashians’, she mentioned that Jeff Bezos had invited Pete to travel into space. She was amazed, saying, ‘I find it hard to believe! It feels so surreal and extraordinary to me.’

After speaking with Bezos, she found comfort in learning about the safety measures, tests, and their procedures. With this knowledge, she felt assured about Pete’s journey.

And, Kardashian added, “If I didn’t have four kids, I would absolutely go.”

Despite not personally having taken a flight aboard one of his company’s spacecraft, Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, expressed his aspiration at the International Astronautical Conference in 2016 that these vehicles might transport humans to Mars as early as 2024. At the time, he acknowledged this timeline was considered “optimistic.

In a similar vein, Musk admitted that the early trips to Mars would likely be extremely perilous, with a significant chance of failure and loss of life. It’s simply unavoidable.

In September 2024, he revised his aim, stating that SpaceX plans to send an unmanned Starship to Mars towards the end of 2026. The ambition is to follow up with a crewed mission to Mars about two years later.

During a discussion at the White House in October 2016, between President Barack Obama and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, Leonardo DiCaprio playfully indicated his support for the idea of colonizing Mars.

Essentially, Dr. Hayhoe pointed out that since most of us reside on Earth, it’s crucial to elect leaders who acknowledge climate change. Until we have tickets to Mars, let’s assume no one does, as I find such a notion quite extraordinary.

To which DiCaprio interjected, “I did.”

Quipped Obama, “I think he’ll acknowledge he’s crazy.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, despite never clarifying the matter, previously expressed interest in traveling aboard a Virgin Galactic spacecraft. In fact, a seat on this very spacecraft, should it ever launch, was sold at an auction for $1.5 million during the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS charity event at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where DiCaprio was present.

Over time, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, expressed uncertainty about whether Leonardo DiCaprio would take part in the initial official flight or not.

In 2016, he mentioned to Vulture that we’ve enrolled around 700 individuals and they’ve shown a high level of dedication. Some have been with us for over ten years since the program began. However, I believe our journey is nearing its end.

In 2018, the VSS Unity completed Virgin Galactic’s inaugural suborbital space voyage, with Leonardo DiCaprio not being on board.

In February 2013, Justin Bieber tweeted, “I wanna do a concert in space.”

NASA replied, “Maybe we can help you  with that.”

In June, Branson posted on Twitter that Bieber and their manager Scooter Braun were booked for a suborbital space flight with Virgin Galactic. He also wrote, “Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing you both up there!

To which Bieber replied, “Let’s shoot a music video in SPACTopMob!”

None of this has happened yet. 

Ever since Tom Hanks saw Stanley Kubrick’s movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” back in 1968 at the age of 12, he has been deeply fascinated with space.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2023, the Apollo 13 actor expressed that the film portrayed a captivating idea of a human in an empty space, which hadn’t interested him before. However, he became enamored by the aesthetics and romance of the space program only after watching that movie.

About a month following an awe-inspiring trip to the cinema, he tuned into a festive television broadcast of Apollo 8 orbiting around the moon. “I was watching the entire Earth on my screen,” he reminisced. “I felt like I was part of that planet in the picture!

His latest space-related venture is titled “The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks“, a captivating movie about the Apollo missions that will be screened at Space Center Houston. He was involved in its scriptwriting and serves as its narrator.

His latest space-related project is called “The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks“, which is an immersive movie about the Apollo missions that’s going to be shown at Space Center Houston. He helped write it and narrates it himself with Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks is also rumored to be on the Virgin Galactic waiting list, but during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2021, he revealed that he declined a flight offer from Blue Origin for a simple and practical reason.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I find myself in a rather peculiar predicament when it comes to the staggering sum of approximately $28 million mentioned. While I’m thriving and enjoying my life, I must admit that I am not prepared to part with such an astronomical amount of money.

I, being a passionate follower of space exploration, had secured my spot on a future flight with Virgin Galactic. However, following a deeply emotional conversation with Mila Kunis, I decided to sell my ticket back.

In an interview with Cheddar News in July 2021, he mentioned that after getting married and having kids, his wife suggested it wasn’t wise for us to venture into space because we had young children.

Prince William won’t be accused of trying to colonize Mars, thank you very much.

He emphasized to BBC’s Newscast in 2021 that our efforts should primarily revolve around mending our planet. It’s essential, he stated, to concentrate on this world instead of abandoning it for space exploration and seeking solutions for the future.

And, the father of three noted, he admittedly preferred to measure altitude in feet, not miles.

William expressed that he has no desire whatsoever to fly that far above, “I prefer to keep my flights relatively low,” he mentioned. As a pilot, he admitted that he usually maintains proximity to the earth’s surface. He shared an experience where he ascended up to 65,000 feet once in an aircraft, and he found it incredibly petrifying.

In 2014, Cameron Diaz expressed her enthusiasm for space travel by stating, “I can’t wait to venture into space – truly the next great frontier! As explorers, it’s only natural that humans should eventually leave Earth.

Reflecting upon a blue moon over St. Barts’ shoreline, the actress mused, “I know nothing at all. What I do understand is that there are forces greater than myself. I yield to these greater powers, no matter what they may be.

Michael Fassbender’s role in Ridley Scott’s prequel to Alien, titled Prometheus, didn’t diminish his enthusiasm for the possibility of actual space travel, despite the fact that there might be no one around to listen if you scream in the vastness of space.

In 2012, he mentioned to W that if given the opportunity, he would undoubtedly embark on a space journey. However, space travel hasn’t been something he’s actively pursued.

Fassbender’s Prometheus costar Charlize Theron, however, was a little haunted.

Theron told W, ‘If space isn’t Ridley Scott’s realm, I wouldn’t go.’ She revealed that when she watched Prometheus at a screening, she got so frightened she accidentally hit the metal chair beside her. The small scar she still bears from it is a testament to her fear. ‘That shows how cowardly I am,’ she added. ‘I don’t believe I have the right constitution for space.’

Following news breakouts about Paris Hilton reserving a spot on Virgin Galactic in 2008, which was a decade prior to any flights, she admitted in an interview that she was indeed quite fearful.

Hilton pondered, ‘What happens if I don’t return?’ He thought about the vast distance of light-years, ‘If I come back 10,000 years later, everyone I know will likely be gone. It would be like starting life from scratch.’

Despite not taking the journey herself, it was during an interview with Branson on “This Is Paris” in 2021 that she disclosed that her current spouse, Carter Reum, had actually purchased a plane ticket for the trip earlier on.

Branson expressed that our ultimate goal is to make space travel accessible for numerous listeners of this broadcast in the future, while also reducing costs. However, achieving this may require some patience because, as you’re aware, space exploration comes with a hefty price tag.

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2025-04-14 06:18