Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sanchez says she plans to go to space next year
Lauren Sanchez plans to follow in the space boots of her boyfriend, Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, by leaving Earth’s orbit.
Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and owner of the aerial film production firm Black Ops Aviation, revealed in an interview published Monday that she expects to fly to space at some point next year.
Sanchez reportedly declined to reveal any specific potential crewmates, though she confirmed her trip was envisioned with an all-female crew. She also rejected the possibility that Bezos will join her on the flight.
“It’ll be a great group of females,” Sanchez told CNN.
Blue Origin, Bezos’ space exploration firm, has performed a series of civilian flights since the billionaire took part in its maiden voyage. Bezos famously wore a cowboy hat along with the standard blue flight suit when he, his brother Mark and two other passengers completed Blue Origin’s first crewed mission.
Since then, the firm has conducted launches with other celebrities, including NFL legend-turned-media personality Michael Strahan and “Star Trek” star William Shatner. Comedian Pete Davidson was also slated to fly to space, but backed out ahead of the launch date.
The Post has reached out to Blue Origin for comment on Sanchez’s plans.
Sanchez revealed her space ambitions during the same interview in which Bezos confirmed plans to give away the bulk of his $124 billion fortune to charity during his lifetime.
During a speech at the Vatican in October, Bezos said that Blue Origin had a “long-term goal” to “move all polluting industries off Earth.” The firm competes directly with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and others in an increasingly fierce private space race.
Bezos also pushed back on critics who argue his space plans are a waste of precious resources that could be better used on Earth.
“We go to space not to abandon our home but to protect it,” Bezos said. “Consider energy. In space, the sun always shines, and we can collect energy in almost unlimited amounts. Energy and other resources can be harvested and used in space without harming the Earth. Earth is a garden that should be tended.”
