With tickets that can soar up to $28 million, Blue Origin’s space tourism isn’t cheap—unless you’re a celebrity guest. Here’s what it takes to reach the edge of space.
Washington | April 15, 2025 — Pop icon Katy Perry became one of the few civilians to touch the edge of space, completing a brief yet historic 10-minute mission aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-31 rocket. The all-women flight included Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn, marking the first all-female spaceflight in over six decades.
Launched from West Texas, the spacecraft carried the six passengers over 100 km above Earth, past the Karman line—the recognized boundary of space—before safely descending back to Earth.
💰 So, What’s the Price Tag?
While Blue Origin doesn’t publicly list ticket prices, a few key indicators offer insight:
- 💵 $28 million: That’s what one person paid at auction for a seat on Blue Origin’s first flight in 2021.
- 💸 A refundable deposit of $150,000 is required just to begin the booking process, as stated on the company’s website.
- 🧾 Passengers must be at least 18 years old and submit a short application form, including a 500-word description of themselves.
🧑🚀 Do Celebrities Pay?
Not always. William Shatner, Michael Strahan, and other high-profile guests have flown for free as part of Blue Origin’s promotional and symbolic efforts.
“It’s not about money; it’s about social capital and alignment with the mission,” says Roman Chiporukha, co-founder of space travel booking firm SpaceVIP.
Even on the April 14 flight, some passengers were reportedly non-paying invitees.
🛰️ What the Flight Offers
Passengers aboard New Shepard experience:
- A brief moment of weightlessness
- Panoramic views of Earth from space
- A round-trip journey lasting about 11 minutes
Since launching its civilian space program in 2021, 58 people have flown on Blue Origin flights.
👩🚀 A New Era of Space Travel?
As private space companies compete for the ultra-wealthy and the influential, space is no longer the exclusive domain of astronauts. While everyday affordability is still far off, Blue Origin and rivals like Virgin Galactic are slowly redefining who gets to go beyond Earth.
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Katy Perry spaceflight, Blue Origin ticket cost, civilian space travel, New Shepard rocket, Jeff Bezos space company, how to go to space, Blue Origin celebrity guests, suborbital tourism, Virgin Galactic pricing, commercial spaceflights