Elaine McCallig
Dec 11, 2021
Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan called today’s Blue Origin trip “unreal” and quipped that he wants “to go back”.
The former New York Giants Hall of Famer was one of the six who blasted off in Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft, New Shepard (NS-19), for a ten-minute flight this afternoon.
Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut to go to space, were “honorary guests” and took part in the trip for free.
They were joined by Space for Humanity founder Dylan Taylor, engineer and investor Evan Dick, venture capitalist Lane Bess and his 23-year-old son Cameron Bess. According to Blue Origin, the Besses are the first parent-child pair to fly to space together.
BREAKING: Blue Origin's New Shepard lifts off, carrying @GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan and crew of astronauts for a… https://t.co/4efDhyXzMb— ABC News (@ABC News) 1639235148
LISTEN: @michaelstrahan and crew enters into space. "WOO HOO!" "CHECK THIS OUT! "OH MY GOD!" #BlueOrigin LIVE UPD… https://t.co/Kh31x3nQ69— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1639235347
The crew reached an altitude of 351,225 feet and enjoyed a few minutes of weightlessness before they landed again on the desert floor in Texas.
"Good Morning America" host Michael Strahan, the daughter of famed astronaut Alan Shepard, and four paying customer… https://t.co/S7i264ONCK— CNN (@CNN) 1639235793
Speaking after landing back in Texas, Strahan said: “It was surreal… it was unbelievable. It’s hard to even describe it, it’s going to take a little bit to process it but it couldn’t have gone better.”
TOUCHDOWN has a new meaning now!!! WOW…. that was amazing!!! 🚀🚀 @blueorigin @SMAC https://t.co/xz54JT49f3— Michael Strahan (@Michael Strahan) 1639242592
Strahan had a few important pieces of luggage, including a football which will go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after the footballer’s trip above the clouds.
Jeff Bezos: "This football when you bring it back down to Earth, is going straight to the Pro Football Hall of Fame… https://t.co/km3G9xiGPF— ABC News (@ABC News) 1639234346
But that wasn’t all that Strahan packed for his trip.
He also took his retired Giants jersey, his Hall of Fame and Super Bowl rings, his grandfather’s pocket watch, and bullets from his late father’s military funeral.
He said his mother gave him his grandfather’s watch to get repaired during the Thanksgiving holidays, but instead he opted to delay the repair so he could bring the special memento to space with him.
.@michaelstrahan reveals the personal items he’s taking on the #BlueOrigin New Shepard flight: - Retired @Giants je… https://t.co/YZKxrULqw5— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1639234334
Shepard Churchley also brought special mementos with her today, including a ring that her father brought to the moon in 1971.
She also brought a tiny part of her father’s Freedom 7 Mercury capsule, which soared in 1961.
Among the items Laura Shepard Churchley is taking to space with her is the ring that her father took to the Moon -… https://t.co/g3kGKReMIU— Sarah Cruddas (@Sarah Cruddas) 1638926708
Spectators were excited to witness the crew’s mission today:
Laura Shepard Churchley is now the 372nd American to fly into space. Her dad was the first. Have a look at how She… https://t.co/XAcLpmKxDu— RobertPearlman (@RobertPearlman) 1639238976
Someone's excited...#blueorigin... #dogsoftwitter https://t.co/OeaUuhPlNH— Janey Bishoff (@Janey Bishoff) 1639235746
Congratulations @michaelstrahan, @dylan, and the entire @blueorigin #NS19 crew! Soak up every moment of that amazin… https://t.co/3H2bVOfqKy— Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor (@Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor) 1639234861
"An original Shepard will fly on the New Shepard." - Laura Shepard Churchley #NS19 #BlueOrigin https://t.co/FSNtduozHB— NASA Watch (@NASA Watch) 1639230707
History was previously made during a Blue Origin mission earlier this year when 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner became the oldest person in space.
If you could go, would you take the trip too?
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