How much preparation did the crew have to do for today's successful space flight? By Mickey Carroll, science and technology reporter Astronauts spend years preparing for space travel. Before they're even assigned a mission, NASA trains potential astronauts in shuttle and space station systems, Earth sciences, meteorology, space science and engineering, land and water survival, aircraft operations and scuba diving. Once they've been given their mission, they then begin specialist training. They're paired with experienced astronauts who teach them how to perform spacewalks, fly shuttles, command the mission or carry out scientific research. Katy Perry and the crew did not have to do all of this intensive preparation as their four-minute stint in space was on a self-driving rocket and didn't require them to perform any scientific operations. Watch Perry chat about the flight preparation in the video below... Preparations in Texas The women's trip is still significant, however, and they've been getting ready for months, according to an interview in Elle magazine. As well as individual preparations, like meditation lessons for broadcaster Gayle King and zero-gravity simulations for producer Kerianne Flynn, the group went to Texas for the weekend, getting to know their shuttle, space suits and procedures. They will have been guided through what the flight feels and sounds like, learning everything from how to respond to ground control to where the oxygen masks are located. Two crucial phrases Crucially, they will have learnt two important phrases - "time-out" and "I will not fly" - according to Blue Origin director Sarah Knights, speaking in 2021. They had until T-minus 2 minutes and 30 seconds before lift-off to use those phrases. After that, the vehicle controls itself, and it can be risky to stop the launch. But as we know, all six women successfully went to space and back, with no one backing out. 'We've got business to handle' Although some of the crew were anxious beforehand, Katy Perry had no such qualms. She told Elle: "I don't have any time to be nervous; I ain't got time to be worried. "I'm going to feel something when they go, '10, 9, 8, 7,…' but until then, we've got stuff to do. "We've got business to handle."