"Blue Origin, they approached me and they asked if I wanted to be a crew member. Without hesitation, I said yes.”
(Picture: Getty Images)Former New York Giant Hall of Famer and current Good Morning America host Michael Strahan will be one of the six people aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft, New Shepard (NS-19), in the third planned flight.
But you might be wondering - much did he pay to join this trip of a lifetime?
We have the answer: nothing!
Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut to go to space, are “honorary guests” and are taking the trip for free.
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Without the celebrity discount, however, the price is pretty eye-watering.
According to reports, someone bid $28m to score a seat on the Blue Origin spacecraft. But, due to scheduling conflicts, the mystery bidder couldn’t go on the trip.
To fill the seat, the bidder put 18-year-old physics student Oliver Daeman in his place. He also became the youngest person to go to space.
A chunk of the money was dispersed to Club for the Future, a foundation created by Bezos’ rocket company.
Its mission is to encourage future generations to embark on careers in STEM and to help invent the future of life in space.
Strahan said that covering the first Blue Origin launch in July inspired him to join the December launch.
“Blue Origin, they approached me and they asked if I wanted to be a crew member,” he said. “Without hesitation, I said yes.”
JUST IN: @michaelstrahan is going out of this world – literally! – and will be flying on @BlueOrigin’s #NewShepard rocket on December 9! https://t.co/zubchTcMg9 pic.twitter.com/mwVqRQ7HAB
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 23, 2021
Strahan also exclusively revealed to PEOPLE the personal items he is bringing on the space trip, paying close attention to not exceed the 3lb weight limit.
Some of these items include, but are not limited to his Super Bowl XLII Ring, two watches, a lucky $2 bill, and 12 shell casings from the 12-gun salute performed at his father’s funeral.
The launch took place in Van Horn, Texas on Saturday, December 11.
This article was amended on 11 December 2021. It had originally stated that the third flight was set to occur on December 9, but it was delayed.
