WEST TEXAS — Blue Origin’s 11th crewed flight made headlines Monday morning as an all-female crew, including pop superstar Katy Perry, soared into space aboard the NS-31 mission. The launch took off from Launch Site One in West Texas and lasted approximately 11 minutes, reaching an altitude of over 60 miles — just beyond the Kármán line, which marks the official boundary of space.
Meet the Groundbreaking Crew
The six trailblazing women aboard the New Shepard rocket were:
- Katy Perry, singer, entrepreneur, and now space traveler
- Lauren Sanchez, journalist, helicopter pilot, and fiancée of Jeff Bezos
- Gayle King, TV journalist and co-host of CBS Mornings
- Aisha Bowe, former NASA rocket scientist and aerospace entrepreneur
- Amanda Nguyen, civil rights activist and bioastronautics researcher
- Kerianne Flynn, documentary filmmaker
Together, they became part of history as Blue Origin confirmed this was the first all-female spaceflight since 1963, following Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight.
Moments That Moved the World
After landing safely back on Earth, emotions ran high:
- Katy Perry kissed the ground and revealed she carried a daisy into space for her 4-year-old daughter, Daisy.
“I feel super-connected to love,” Perry said. “This experience has shown me how much love is inside of me.”
- Gayle King, famously afraid of flying, also kissed the ground after exiting the capsule and humorously declared:
“I may now get my ears pierced.”
She also paraphrased Eleanor Roosevelt:
“Courage is doing something that scares you, but you do it anyway.”
- During the flight, Perry reportedly sang “What a Wonderful World,” adding to the already surreal experience.
- Oprah Winfrey, King’s longtime best friend, was among the crowd and was seen tearing up when the capsule touched down.
Reflections on a “Supernatural Journey”
In a press conference following the flight, the crew shared their perspectives:
- Sanchez called the experience “profound,” describing Earth as a glowing “jewel” against the blackness of space.
- Perry referred to it as a “supernatural journey.”
- King took issue with critics calling it a mere “ride,” insisting:
“We’ve had some cranky Yankees and haters… I’m not going to let you steal our joy.”
She emphasized how the mission serves as inspiration for young women and girls, and even boys, around the world.
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A Mission Years in the Making
The crew emerged from their hangar at 8:00 a.m. CDT, met with cheers and high-fives from family and friends lining the path to the launchpad. The NS-31 flight officially lifted off shortly after 8:30 a.m., completing its suborbital trip successfully.
On social media the day before, Perry had shared:
“I’ve dreamt of going to space for 15 years and tomorrow that dream becomes a reality.”
That dream came true — and along with it, a powerful message that space is for everyone, no matter gender, fear, or background.
