Lauren Sánchez opens up about 'life-changing' journey to space — admits she feels 'nervous'

Lauren Sánchez is gearing up for an extraordinary journey to space aboard the Blue Origin rocket, and she’ll be bringing along a special companion. Flynn, the lovable character from her debut children's book, 'The Fly Who Flew to Space.'

The former journalist is preparing for her all-female flight. The trip, which will be part of Blue Origin’s 11th human flight, marks a full-circle moment for Sánchez, and she is now opening up about how much this milestone means for her.

Just last week, Lauren shared behind-the-scenes footage of the flight, showing how the crew is helping the journey come to life. She was accompanied by her soon-to-be husband, Jeff Bezos, who is sharing his support for her every step of the way ahead of their highly anticipated wedding.

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During her latest interview with People, Lauren revealed that she "never thought I’d be following in Flynn’s footsteps so soon." She continued, “It all feels like a beautiful blend of imagination and reality.”

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The children's book follows the journey of a fly who unintentionally finds himself aboard a rocket ship bound for space. “Like Flynn, I never thought in a million years that I’d have the chance to go to space,” she reflects, revealing that she will bring a plush version of the animated character.

© Lauren Sanchez/Instagram

"This journey is more than a space flight," Lauren said to the publication. "It’s about inspiring the next generation of explorers and dreamers, being bold, and embracing adventure in pursuit of learning and growing as a person."

Along with her, other successful women in different fields are preparing for the flight, including singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, engineer Aisha Bowe, entrepreneur Kerianne Flynn, and activist Amanda Nguyen. 

© Jeff Bottari

Despite the excitement, Lauren admitted that she is still nervous about the flight. "I think it's natural to feel a little nervous," she confessed. “This is the chance of a lifetime,” Lauren added. “I’m also incredibly excited about seeing our planet from space. They call it the Overview Effect for a reason. It’s a perspective that I believe will be truly life-changing for me, as it has been for others who have experienced this rare view."