Lauren Sánchez Says Her All-Female Space Crew Will Be Announced Soon: ‘My Fellow Astronauts’ (Exclusive)

He’s joining the space race — and taking a few intrepid friends with him.

Lauren Sánchez, 54, says she will soon announce who will be joining her all-female space flight on Blue Origin. She first announced the move that created history in 2022.

“I’m extremely excited,” she tells PEOPLE about getting out of Earth’s atmosphere. “We haven’t announced the date yet, but it will be this year. And we’ll start announcing my fellow astronauts in the coming months.”

Emmy-winning journalist — whose first children’s book, The fly that flew into spaceabout an adventurous fly with big dreams, out on September 17 — he says it’s a bit nervous about the upcoming venture, despite already witnessing her fiance Jeff Bezos on the same trip with his Blue Origin rocket.

Jeff Bezos photographed in Van Horn, Texas on July 20, 2021.

Joe Raedle/Getty

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“I haven’t really thought about it too much, but as we get closer to the actual date I might be a little more nervous,” she says. “But I know it’s really safe and I think it’s going to be an amazing adventure.”

Of course, Sánchez has never shied away from facing her fears. In 2016, she decided to learn to fly a helicopter, which eventually led her to start her own airline.

“Then I was doing the morning show, Good day LA.., and I got off at 10 a.m.,” she tells how she decided to fly.

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“I didn’t want to do something typical with the rest of the day, like just go to a yoga class,” she adds. “Of course, I was doing it too, but I really wanted to learn something. So I set a goal and said, ‘I’m going to learn to fly,’ and I did.”

She adds, “The theme of my book is also about following your dreams no matter how crazy you think they are.”

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However, Sánchez wants to make it clear that he’s not going into space just for the thrill.

“I think I’ll come back from that mission seeing the world from a whole new perspective and I’ll be able to share that perspective,” she says. “And hopefully that translates into other people seeing that and wanting to help save the planet.”

Lauren Sánchez photographed in Los Angeles on August 26, 2023.

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

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“Environmental protection is a great passion,” points out Sánchez, who holds the title of vice president of the Bezos Earth Fund.

And if those nerves return before the big space flight, he claims the cold won’t be a problem.

“I think I get nervous every time I fly in a helicopter,” she says. “I think those butterflies are useful and help you stay safe. I think I’m always nervous before doing something big, but I’ve learned how to control the butterflies and use them in a positive way.”

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Source: HIS Education