Blue Origin's historic all-female NS-31 launch set for Monday amid favorable weather

Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin is ready to launch a historic space mission. This flight will carry an all-woman crew into space aboard its New Shepard rocket. The mission is called NS-31 and is planned to launch on Monday morning from Van Horn, Texas. This mission will be New Shepard’s 11th human flight.

The flight will take six women on a suborbital journey to the edge of space. These women are:

• Aisha Bowe (a former NASA engineer)

• Amanda Nguyễn (a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and activist)

• Gayle King (well-known TV host)

• Katy Perry (famous pop singer)

• Kerianne Flynn (a supporter of space programs)

• Lauren Sánchez (TV host and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée)

A live stream of the event will be available on Blue Origin’s website for people around the world to watch.

What makes this launch special

This is the first time that only women will fly together in a Blue Origin rocket. It is part of the company’s goal to support space travel for more people, including women from different backgrounds. Lauren Sánchez had previously said she wanted to make spaceflight more inclusive. With this mission, she hopes to inspire girls and women across the globe.

The New Shepard rocket is specially designed for space tourism. It takes passengers just past the boundary of space—about 100 kilometers above Earth—before safely bringing them back. The entire trip lasts just around 10 to 12 minutes, but offers stunning views of the Earth and a few moments of weightlessness.

Launch time and weather forecast

Blue Origin plans to launch the NS-31 flight at 9:30 AM EDT (around 7:00 PM IST). However, weather can play a major role in determining whether the rocket can launch on time.

Here’s the weather forecast for Van Horn, Texas, on launch day:

• Temperature: It will be warm, between 70–80°F (21–27°C) around the launch time.

• Cloud Cover: Mostly cloudy skies are expected, with cloud cover up to 89%.

• Precipitation: No rain is expected. The skies should stay dry.

• Winds: Winds will blow from the north-northeast at about 17 miles per hour. This is within safe limits. Launches can only be cancelled if gusts go over 44 mph, which is not expected.

• Visibility: Clear visibility is expected, with no major fog or haze. This is important for safety and ground control.

Blue Origin has warned that the launch might get delayed due to poor weather, hardware issues, or problems at the launch pad. If that happens, the company will update viewers through its website and social media pages.

ALSO READ: Earthquake of 6.2 magnitude strikes off the coast of Papua New Guinea

ALSO READ: Hudson River helicopter crash: Aircraft was low on fuel, planned landing in 3 minutes

Possible weather concerns

While the weather seems mostly favorable, there are still a few concerns to watch out for.

1. Clouds: Heavy cloud cover could be a problem. Earlier this year, a mission called NS-29 had to be postponed due to thick clouds and an issue with the rocket’s electronics. If the cloud cover over Van Horn becomes too thick, the launch could be delayed.

2. Wind Shear: This refers to sudden changes in wind speed and direction at higher altitudes. Wind shear can affect how the rocket moves through the atmosphere. Luckily, no serious wind threats are expected on the day of the launch.

Blue Origin is trying to make space accessible to more people. By sending a group of accomplished women, they are sending a strong message: space is for everyone. From engineers to entertainers, these six women represent different walks of life, but they all share one dream—to see space with their own eyes.

Jeff Bezos, who also owns Amazon, has long believed in building a future where millions of people can live and work in space. New Shepard is just the first step toward that vision. So far, it has safely taken many people to space and back. With each launch, Blue Origin gathers more data to improve the safety and reliability of space travel.

Lauren Sánchez earlier said that her goal is to include more women in space missions. This mission helps in achieving that goal. Amanda Nguyễn, who is also flying on NS-31, has spoken about how meaningful it is for survivors, minorities, and women to see representation in space exploration.

Katy Perry, who is part of this crew, brings excitement and attention to the mission. Her fans are eagerly waiting to see her fly. Some have even joked online that the launch should be shown in every school classroom to inspire children.

What happens during the flight

The New Shepard rocket launches vertically and separates from its capsule a few minutes into the flight. The capsule continues upward and reaches the edge of space. Passengers experience a few minutes of zero gravity and can see the curvature of the Earth. Then, the capsule gently floats back down with parachutes and lands in the desert.

The rocket booster also returns and lands vertically so it can be reused in future missions. Blue Origin has successfully done this several times.

Every rocket launch carries some risk. Blue Origin follows strict safety checks before giving the green light. Engineers check the weather, rocket systems, communication tools, and landing gear. Only when everything looks perfect do they go ahead with the launch.

In January this year, the NS-29 mission had to be called off just before launch due to clouds and an issue with the rocket’s sensors. That shows how careful the company is when it comes to safety.

Monday’s launch is historic. The world is watching. But nature could delay the mission. While things look good overall—warm weather, clear skies, and gentle winds—clouds may still cause some delays. Everyone, including the six women ready to fly, is hoping for smooth weather.

Blue Origin will monitor everything closely and make the safest decision. The dream of seeing women from all walks of life head into space is almost ready to come true.

For now, all we can do is wait and watch the sky.