Among celebrities, there are many space enthusiasts captivated by the wonders of the night sky and eager to experience zero gravity. From thrill-seeking billionaires to Hollywood icons, celebs in space are making headlines — some have already seen Earth from orbit and shared their awe-inspiring experiences, while others are still preparing for their big launch.
So, who has ventured beyond our atmosphere, and who’s next in line for a cosmic journey? Let’s take a look.
Celebrities in Space: Famous People Who’ve Left Earth
Let’s start with those celebs in space who have already made the journey beyond our atmosphere.
Male Celebs In Space: Richard Branson
Richard Branson is an English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group – a multinational venture capital conglomerate. On 11 July 2021, he made his first trip to space aboard his company Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spacecraft. It was the first fully crewed flight test, a mission called “Unity 22”. This hour-long journey to and from suborbital space made Branson the first billionaire founder of a space company to travel to the edge of space.
Jeff Bezos
Of course, the owner of a space technology company Blue Origin was the first person to cross the Kármán line on the company’s first crewed flight in July 2021. Jeff Bezos joined the growing list of celebs in space when he flew into orbit just nine days after Richard Branson’s space trip.
“Best day ever,” Bezos summarized his space journey after the crew capsule safely landed back on Earth.
William Shatner
In October 2021, Captain Kirk from the famous Star Trek joined the ranks of celebs in space when he travelled aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The actor became the oldest person to travel to space at the age of 90.
Later, based on his cosmic experience, William Shatner wrote a book “Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder”. In the book, he reflects on his voyage to space, describes his thoughts and feelings: “I saw a cold, dark, black emptiness. It was unlike any blackness you can see or feel on Earth. It was deep, enveloping, all-encompassing. I turned back toward the light of home. I could see the curvature of Earth, the beige of the desert, the white of the clouds and the blue of the sky. It was life.”
Unlike Bezos, he didn’t find the experience as joyful – it left him feeling sad. “The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness”, William Shatner wrote in his book.
The book “Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder,” co-authored by Josh Brandon, was published by Atria Books on 4th October, 2022.
Michael Strahan
Another celebrity who’s travelled to space with Jeff Bozos’s Blue Origin is the “Good Morning America” co-anchor. In December 2021, he went to space with the third Blue Origin’s human flight, becoming the first news anchor to leave our planet and come back.
Michael Strahan appears to be quite a sentimental man, and before the flight,t he revealed a list of personal items he will bring onboard.
The space trip fascinated Strahan: “That was beyond,” he told Jeff Bezos after the capsule landed on Earth. “I want to go back.”
Celebrities Planning To Go To Space
Many high-profile figures have already made their journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere, but several more celebs are still waiting for their space flight. Here’s a look at the famous people who are planning to venture into the cosmos.
Has Leonardo DiCaprio Been To Space, Too?
The answer is yes. Leo DiCaprio has finally won the Oscar, so becoming a celebrity in space might be the next frontier! The actor has shown interest in space exploration, particularly in commercial space travel. In 2013, he purchased a ticket for a future Virgin Galactic flight and auctioned the seat next to him for charity, raising $1.5 million for his foundation at the Cannes Film Festival.
However, there haven’t been any recent updates on when or if he still plans to go.
Tom Hanks
The famous actor and producer is a true space enthusiast, he has long been fascinated by NASA and space travel. In 1995, he played the role of astronaut Jim Lovell in the film “Apollo 13”. He has also narrated space-related documentaries, including Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005).
Tom Hanks has not officially purchased a ticket to space, but he has expressed interest in going. There were rumours that he had also bought a Virgin Galactic ticket, but it is not confirmed yet.
Hanks was reportedly offered a seat on one of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flights but declined due to the high ticket price. In one of the interviews, he said that he wasn’t willing to pay $28 million just to become another celebrity in space.
Justin Bieber
The pop star is excited about the idea of performing in space one day. In 2013, he and his manager purchased tickets for a future Virgin Galactic flight. Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, even posted, welcoming Bieber as a future astronaut aboard his spacecraft.
Female Celebs In Space: Rihanna
Another A-List star who has shown interest in joining the celebs in space is Rihanna. She purchased three tickets for a future Virgin Galactic flight, planning to bring her brother and a bodyguard along for the journey.
Much like Leonardo DiCaprio, there is no confirmed timeline for when she will actually venture into space.
Katy Perry
The world-famous pop star is known for her interest in space exploration. In 2012, her ex-husband Russell Brand reportedly purchased a ticket for her to fly on a Virgin Galactic spaceflight, although she never took the trip. Katy Perry is set to join an all-female crew on Blue Origin’s upcoming mission, scheduled for spring 2025.
Gayle King
An American television personality, author, and broadcast journalist for CBS News, co-hosting its flagship morning programme, will join Katy Perry during the all-female Blue Origin flight.
Lauren Sánchez
An Emmy Award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, pilot, and fiancée of Jeff Bezos, Sánchez will lead the all-female Blue Origin mission. She, along with Gale King, will become the first journalists to ever fly to space!
Kerianne Flynn
Film producer Kerianne Flynn is also part of the scheduled all-female Blue Origin flight.
She has always been drawn to adventure and space, and hopes her Blue Origin space flight will become an inspiration for her son and the next generation of dreamers and space enthusiasts.
The Most Famous Couple In Space: Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt
In 2014, right before the divorce, the former couple made headlines by joining the list of celebs in space. They allegedly purchased tickets for a Virgin Galactic flight.
Brad Pitt, in particular, has expressed a fascination with space – he played the role of an astronaut in the film “Ad Astra” and even interviewed NASA astronaut Nick Hague.
Angelina Jolie is also amazed by space wonders and she is also motivated by her children, who are passionate about astronomy.
However, since their divorce in 2016, there have been no updates on whether either of them still intends to go.
For more interesting information about celebrities in space, read our article about the first ever all-female Blue Origin spaceflight.
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