Lauren Sánchez Says Her All-Female Space Crew Will Be Announced Soon: 'My Fellow Astronauts' (Exclusive)

She's joining the space race — and she's taking some fearless friends with her.

Lauren Sánchez, 54, says she'll be announcing who's joining her all-female flight to space on Blue Origin soon. She first announced the history-making move in 2022.

"I'm extremely excited," she tells PEOPLE of exiting Earth's atmosphere. "We haven't announced the date yet, but it will be this year. And we'll start announcing my fellow astronauts in the coming months."

The Emmy-winning journalist — whose first children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, about an adventurous fly with big dreams, comes out Sept. 17 — says she's somewhat nervous about the upcoming venture, despite having already witnessed her fiancé Jeff Bezos make the same trip with his Blue Origin rocket. 

"I haven't really thought about it too much, but once we get closer to the actual date I might feel a little more nervous," she says. "But I know it's really safe and I think it's going to be an incredible adventure."

Of course, Sánchez has never been one to shy away from facing her fears. In 2016, she decided to learn to fly helicopters, which eventually led to her launching her own aviation company.

"I was doing a morning show back then, Good Day L.A., and I got off at 10 a.m.," she says of how she decided to take up flying.

"I didn't want to do something typical with the rest of my day, like just go to yoga class," she adds. "Of course, I also did that, but I really wanted to learn something. So I set a goal and was like, 'I'm going to learn how to fly,' and so I did."

She adds, "My book's theme is also about following your dreams no matter how crazy you think they are."

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However, Sánchez wants to make clear that she's not just going to space for the thrill of it.

"I think I'll come back from that mission seeing the world from a completely new perspective, and be able to share that perspective," she says. "And hopefully that will translate into other people seeing it, and wanting to help save the planet."

"Environmentalism is a big passion," highlights Sánchez, who holds the title of Vice Chair at the Bezos Earth Fund.

And if those nerves happen to return before the big space flight, she claims cold feet won't be an issue.

"I think I get nervous every time I fly helicopters too," she says. "I think those butterflies are useful and help you stay safe. I think I always get nervous before I do something big, but I've kind of learned how to control the butterflies, and use them in a positive way."