Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian Celebrate Historic All-Female Space Launch!

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Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian are keeping up with this historic launch.

As a lifestyle expert, I couldn’t help but cheer on my friends Lauren Sánchez, Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe (a former NASA rocket scientist), Amanda Nguyen (a civil rights activist), and Kerianne Flynn (a film producer) when they embarked on their short space journey on April 14. Their courage and ambition continue to inspire me!

Kris expressed to Blue Origin at the West Texas launch pad that our primary purpose is to stand by our girlfriend and friends. He never imagined we’d discuss things from a space launch site, making this an incredibly rare and special moment for us. We feel incredibly privileged to be here, not only to support them but also to witness such an incredible piece of history unfolding.

The Jenner-Kardashian matriarch gushed of Lauren, “I’m so proud of her.”

Truly remarkable! This is indeed a significant milestone as the six passengers make history by being the first all-female crew in space since 1963, when the Soviet Union’s cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova embarked on a solo mission that spanned three days, becoming the first woman in space.

In the meantime, Khloe pondered over the significance of the present situation, expressing, “What a monumental day this is, and it’s incredibly inspiring.

She underscored that being a mother to her 7-year-old daughter True Thompson, who she co-parents with her former partner Tristan Thompson, adds an extra layer of significance to these moments.

For the founder of Good American, who is also the father of two-year-old Tatum Thompson (with the NBA player), the rocket launch carries a unique and empowering message for young girls all around the world.

She put it simply: “Whatever your dreams may be, they are within our grasp, particularly in this modern era.” She encouraged, “Reach high, aim for the heavens, and someday you might just find yourself among those celestial bodies.

Apart from Khloe and Kris, Oprah Winfrey was also among the famous faces present for the launch. Accompanied by her lifelong friend, Gayle, Oprah watched the rocket ascend with a shared sense of excitement.

She expressed, “Today, I’ve never felt prouder about my friend than I do now.” She added, “What he’s doing is much more significant than merely venturing into space.

Previously known television talk show host disclosed that even though Gayle harbored a deep-rooted fear of flying, she decided to face it head-on. In her own words, “This represents conquering a barrier of terror.

As for why she encouraged the CBS News anchor to accept the opportunity?

Life, as Oprah put it, is all about consistently becoming your optimal self and expressing yourself to the maximum. I firmly believe this is one of the most profound statements you could make. I sensed a deep remorse within her for not having pursued it.

Read on for everything we know about the Blue Origin launch.

Established in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, Blue Origin is a private space exploration enterprise headquartered in Kent, Washington. The company’s mission, as stated on its website, revolves around utilizing space resources for Earth’s benefit and expanding human presence in space. This is achieved through advancements in transportation to low Earth orbit and the creation of habitable destinations there.

Blue Origin aims to attain these objectives by constructing reusable rockets and engines, which are intended to lower the cost of space travel, make it more affordable for citizens, and promote sustainability. During a 2016 talk at the Pathfinder Awards, Bezos expressed his vision: “We aim to have millions of people living and working in space.” He emphasized the importance of reducing the expense of space travel by focusing on reusable technology.

As for booking a flight with Blue Origin, while the company does not publicly list its prices on its website, it does require a $150,000 deposit.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this:

Named after the pioneering astronaut Alan Shepard, who made history by being the first American to journey into space in 1961, the New Shepard is what Blue Origin refers to as a “fully reusable, suborbital rocket system designed for human travel.”

The pressurized crew capsule of this autonomous vehicle can accommodate six individuals. However, unlike traditional aircraft, there’s no pilot seat because, according to the company’s website, it operates independently—there are no pilots on board.

New Shepard debuted in 2015 as part of a flight test program that spanned 16 successful tests, concluding in 2021. That year, in July, the founder of Blue Origin himself, Jeff Bezos, along with his brother Mark, embarked on New Shepard’s maiden human voyage, which they shared with an auction winner who paid a staggering $28 million for their seat. Notable figures like William Shatner and Michael Strahan later joined the ranks of those who boarded this vehicle (on separate missions).

The forthcoming mission will mark New Shepard’s 31st outing (hence its name NS-31) and its 11th human flight.

The New Shepard mission (NS-31) of Blue Origin is scheduled to take off from their Launch Site One, nestled among the Guadalupe Mountain range in the desert of West Texas, on April 14th. According to their website, the launch window starts at 8:30 a.m. CDT.

According to Blue Origin’s website, their New Shepard astronauts rocket upwards into space at a speed over three times faster than the speed of sound. They surpass the Kármán line, the universally accepted boundary of space located 62 miles (or 100 kilometers) above Earth, and then they release their seatbelts to experience weightlessness and marvel at our planet. The journey concludes as the crew descends back to Earth under parachutes, taking around 11 minutes in total.

 

As a lifestyle expert, I’m thrilled to share an exciting development in space exploration: I find myself part of this extraordinary team for mission NS-31. The crew comprises renowned singer Katy Perry, the captivating host of CBS Mornings Gayle King, visionary film producer Kerianne Flynn, groundbreaking innovator and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist and activist Amanda Nguyen, and the esteemed former TV anchor Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Bezos. This remarkable assembly marks a significant milestone as it’s been over half a century since we’ve seen an all-female spaceflight crew, with the Soviet Union’s Valentina Tereshkova pioneering the way in 1963 by becoming the first woman to travel to space.

In this historic journey, Amanda Nguyen will make her mark as the first Vietnamese woman to venture into space, while Aisha Bowe is poised to etch her name in history as the first person of Bahamian heritage to explore realms few have dared to tread before.

As an ardent admirer, let me share a fascinating perspective: Every team member is driven by unique motivations to be part of this extraordinary journey. In a captivating article for ELLE, several crew members articulated their aspirations to inspire the next generation. For example, Perry, mother to Daisy with fiancé Orlando Bloom, yearns to instill in her daughter an unwavering belief that no dream is too big, regardless of one’s background, ethnicity, economic status, or educational attainment.

King, who has openly discussed her apprehensions, aspires to motivate others to challenge their comfort zones. In her words, “Once I take this leap, it will pave the way for countless others who hesitated but are now filled with excitement at the prospect of joining me.”

Lastly, Nguyen, who has faced adversity in her pursuit of a career in STEM, sees this opportunity as a chance to realize a long-deferred dream. Having fought against gender-based violence and advocated for sexual assault survivors’ rights, she now wishes to honor the person she was before the hurt, by embracing this new adventure with enthusiasm.

As reported by Good Morning America, each member of the crew is scheduled to travel to the launch site earlier than the mission itself. During this pre-launch period, they will undergo training sessions that cover a range of topics such as: getting tailored for their flight suits, learning about the spacecraft, mastering communication with ground control, and reviewing safety procedures.

While some members of the crew were undertaking their own preparations prior to the mission, Bowe revealed to ELLE weeks before the launch that he had been ramping up his training for over a year. He recently completed a NASTAR simulation, which allowed him to experience what he might face during the flight. For him, physical readiness is crucial; he wants his body to be familiar with the sensation of ascension. They have booked a fighter jet flight, and he’s eagerly anticipating it. Flynn also mentioned that she underwent several zero-gravity simulation flights. She explained that these simulate weightlessness by modifying a Boeing 747 to fly in a parabolic pattern. When the plane descends, everyone experiences weightlessness. This was to help her acclimatize to this sensation. She also completed NASTAR training in Philadelphia and endured up to five Gs of pressure.

In my role as a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share some fascinating insights into the personal items that three remarkable women are taking on their upcoming space missions.

Nancy Conrad, who is an inspiration and mentor to astronaut Bowe, has given her a piece of history – the Apollo 12 flag, flown by Pete Conrad, the third man to walk on the moon. Bowe also mentioned she’ll be carrying plant samples from Winston-Salem State University’s Astrobotany Lab and dehydrated conch chowder as a tribute to The Bahamas.

Astronaut Nguyen, who survived an assault, will carry personal mementos on her journey. She explained to ELLE that she’ll have her mother’s shells from the island she escaped from and a promise she made to herself after the trauma: “Never ever give up.” Additionally, she revealed on Instagram that she’ll bring the pen former President Obama used to sign the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Act, coins from the Nguyen dynasty, and seeds from the Freetown cotton tree.

Each of these women carries not only physical items but also the strength and resilience of their stories, making their missions truly unique and inspiring.

Stars have conveyed encouraging messages to the crew; among them, Charlie’s Angels star Drew Barrymore sent a video message through CBS Mornings with Tom Hanks, Megan Rapinoe, Bill Nye, and others wishing King good luck and expressing eagerness to discuss topics with him upon his return.
On the other hand, some stars like Olivia Munn have voiced their criticism. In an interview on Today with Jenna & Friends on April 3, she questioned the necessity of the mission, citing the high cost involved, which many cannot afford, and suggesting that there are more pressing issues in the world currently.
Furthermore, Olivia Munn also raised concerns about the mission’s purpose, stating that it may be seen as excessive and self-indulgent.
King acknowledges the criticism surrounding Bezos and Blue Origin, but insists that the mission transcends one man and one company. In an interview with CBS Mornings on April 11, she expressed her belief that it is possible to engage in such activities while addressing other concerns as well.

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2025-04-14 17:17