On Monday morning, six women, including singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and Lauren Sánchez – fiancée of Jeff Bezos – completed a suborbital spaceflight with Blue Origin. The mission, launched from Texas, marked a milestone for the private space firm and gave passengers a brief experience of weightlessness above Earth. The journey lasted just over ten minutes but delivered lasting emotional impact for the crew, especially for those flying for the first time.
Blue Origin Launches All-Women Crew into Suborbital Space
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifted off at 8:30 a.m. local time from a private site in West Texas. The capsule reached the Kármán line, about 100 kilometers above Earth – widely recognized as the boundary of space.
During the flight, the crew enjoyed around three minutes of weightlessness, floating freely inside the cabin. Laughter, cheers, and expressions like “Oh my goddess” and “I love you, Jeff Bezos” echoed through the capsule as Earth spun silently below.
After a parachute-assisted descent, the capsule landed softly on the desert floor. Jeff Bezos himself greeted the passengers, opening the hatch with a smile and welcoming each woman with a warm embrace.
Emotional Moments and Personal Reflections
Lauren Sánchez, who is set to marry Bezos this summer, shared her feelings after returning to Earth:
“The Earth was so quiet but so alive. I felt completely connected. I just want to hug everybody.”
Holding back tears, she joked:
“I had to come back – I’m getting married. Not coming back would’ve been a bummer.”
Pop star Katy Perry described the experience as deeply spiritual:
“This was the highest high. It’s not just about space – it’s about surrender, trust, and self-connection.”
Before the flight, Perry said she prepared by listening to Carl Sagan’s Cosmos and reading about string theory. She added:
“I’ve always been into astronomy and the stars. We’re all made of stardust.”
Television host Gayle King, initially nervous about the title “astronaut,” said she was finally convinced:
“They told me – if you go to space, you’re an astronaut. I guess I am one now.”
A Diverse Crew of Trailblazing Women
In addition to Perry, King, and Sánchez, the crew included:
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Aisha Bowe, an aerospace engineer and former NASA rocket scientist.
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Amanda Nguyen, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and civil rights advocate.
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Kerianne Flynn, a film producer and friend of Sánchez.
All six were invited as guests of Lauren Sánchez and flew at no personal cost.
Public Reactions: Inspiration and Controversy
This was the 11th crewed flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard, which has now brought 52 people to the edge of space. While many praised the all-women crew and the mission’s symbolic power, others questioned its timing and purpose.
Actress Olivia Munn, guest-hosting a morning show, voiced skepticism:
“There’s so much going on in the world right now. What exactly are you doing up in space?”
Critics argued that the mission served more as a publicity effort than scientific exploration. Some noted the contrast between luxury space tourism and the ongoing challenges on Earth, including poverty, climate change, and conflict.
However, supporters say that the visibility of high-profile women in space may inspire future generations of explorers, engineers, and scientists.
Blue Origin’s Future and the Growth of Space Tourism
Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin continues to expand its space tourism program. The company sees suborbital flights as a first step toward more ambitious goals, including lunar landings and orbital habitats.
The cost of a seat on New Shepard remains undisclosed, but is estimated to range between $200,000 and $400,000. While the price makes space travel out of reach for most people today, Blue Origin says it aims to reduce costs and open space to a wider audience in the future.
For now, the latest mission serves as both a celebration of female leadership and a symbol of the growing intersection between celebrity and space.