Michael Strahan, the American footballer turned TV presenter, will be shot into space.
He is just one of a crew of six that will briefly arrive be sent off the Earth in a rocket made by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s private space company.
He will be joined by Laura Shepard Churchley, who is the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first ever American into space. The rest of the crew is made up of investors who paid for their tickets, as well as one of their children, who will become space’s first furry.
The trip will only take 11 minutes, seeing the crew briefly experience weightlessness before coming back down. The whole journey will be controlled by the New Shepard rocket itself, which is entirely autonomous.
The crew are scheduled to take off at 8.45am local central time, or 1.45pm GMT.
Blue Origin gives timings for preparations
Here’s a recap of how the day is set to go:
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 10:28
Team are go for launch
Space’s next visitors are “go” for launch later today, according to Blue Origin.
It also confirms that it will be live streaming proceedings.
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 10:27
Team are go for launch
Space’s next visitors are “go” for launch later today, according to Blue Origin.
It also confirms that it will be live streaming proceedings.
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 10:27
Space will get its first furry today
A lot of has been made of more famous and significant members of today’s crew: a TV presenter, the child of the first American in space. But the world will be getting its first (known) space furry today. Cameron Bess has had a ticket bought by their father and is hoping to make history – but has proven controversial.
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 10:12
Who is Michael Strahan?
He’s the most famous person on today’s flight, and probably the reason a lot of people will be following along today. But who is Michael Strahan?
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 10:11
What time is the launch, how do you watch, and who’s going?
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 09:48
Hello and welcome…
… to The Independent’s live coverage of Michael Strahan and his five fellow passengers’ trip to space,
Andrew Griffin11 December 2021 09:12