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Lauren Sanchez is achieving one of her dreams. The journalist and partner to Jeff Bezos will be a part of an all-women crew to space. She'll be joined by some of her closest friends and powerful celebrities: Katy Perry and Gayle King.
Earlier today, Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origins announced plans for its NS-31 mission, which would consist of six crew members and is scheduled to launch this spring. The crew is made up of Sanchez, Perry, King, and three other women, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
Sanchez is credited as the mastermind behind the mission, with Blue Origins stating that she “brought the mission together."
"She is honored to lead a team of explorers on a mission that will challenge their perspectives of Earth, empower them to share their own stories, and create a lasting impact that will inspire generations to come.”
Sanchez shared her excitement in a video posted on her Instagram. "If someone would have told me that I would be able to go to space one day I would have definitely laughed. I can't believe it's happening," said Sanchez in the clip, where she's seen wearing a plain white t-shirt and a black hat with a space rocket on it.
"I thought dreaming of becoming a pilot was a huge deal. This is even bigger."
Sanchez's emphasis on space and storytelling
Sanchez made it clear that while the women who were selected are incredible in their own right, she placed great value on their capabilities for crafting stories. "What I'm hoping for is that this flight is not just transformative for them but also for all of the people they tell their story to."
"Hopefully it sparks that imagination to dream big and reach for the stars."