Lauren Sanchez is widely recognized for her TV and news appearances and her relationship with Jeff Bezos. However, she may soon gain fame for leading an all-woman space mission with Blue Origin. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sanchez disclosed that she had previously expressed interest in flying on space missions. Jeff Bezos is now supporting her and is excited to assemble a team of women for the mission.
Sánchez is known for her work in the media as an entertainment reporter and news anchor, but she may soon be known for leading an all-woman space mission with Blue Origin. This may surprise many, but her boyfriend and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos are fully supportive of her undertaking this mission.
All-Women in Space
The flight is expected to take place in early 2024, according to The Verge. Sánchez stated that the mission will include four other accomplished women making a difference in the world and that the flight will carry a meaningful message. Additionally, she mentioned that Jeff Bezos will not participate in the flight but will support from the sidelines.
Sánchez, a former reporter, confessed that she is nervous about the upcoming mission but is also extremely excited about it. Currently, it is uncertain who will be selected to join the flight, but according to Hola, Sánchez's friendship with Kim Kardashian could make her a candidate.
Blue Origin, the aerospace and spaceflight company, was established in 2000, but it wasn't until 2021 that it conducted its first flight. The inaugural New Shepard mission had Jeff Bezos, the company's founder, on board, his brother and two other individuals. A few months after the first flight, a second flight took place, with "Star Trek" actor William Shatner on board. The trip was recorded for the "Shatner in Space" show, and with Shatner being 90 years old, he became the oldest person to ever travel to space.
Lauren Sánchez, known for her relationship with Jeff Bezos, could soon be known as the first person to lead an all-woman space mission on Blue Origin.
Richest Companies Taking Flight
The flight after Shatner's was manned by six individuals, including former NFL player Michael Strahan of the New York Giants. The flight also featured Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American in space. The most recent flight before Sánchez's mission is scheduled to take place was in March 2022. Comedian Pete Davidson was initially set to be an honorary guest on board but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts, as per New York Times.
While Blue Origin has conducted missions for NASA, they have mostly been recreational flights. In comparison, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, has sent trained astronauts to space. Blue Origin has a long way to go, as it will be challenging for the company to match SpaceX's record of 204 launches, 166 landings, and 139 re-flights.
ITechPost mentioned the difference between the two companies, highlighting SpaceX, which has successfully delivered cargo to and from the International Space Station. Regardless, Blue Origin's plan to launch an all-woman crew to space is a positive step forward for the company. The company is already preparing to launch a rocket for the Vulcan Missions, which the Pentagon backs.
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