Pop star Katy Perry has described her recent space journey aboard Blue Origin’s first all-female crewed mission as “deeply emotional and life-changing.” The launch, which took place on Monday morning from West Texas, marked a historic moment in space travel—being the first time in over 60 years that an all-women crew took to the stars.
The mission was led and organized by Lauren Sánchez, partner of Amazon founder and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, and included a powerful lineup of accomplished women:
- Katy Perry, global music icon
- Gayle King, CBS Mornings co-host
- Amanda Nguyen, astronaut and civil rights activist
- Aisha Bowe, former NASA rocket scientist
- Kerianne Flynn, film producer and close friend of Sánchez
- Lauren Sánchez, an Emmy Award-winning journalist
Each of these women made history together aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, as they soared briefly into space and experienced moments of weightlessness.
As the capsule ascended, Perry’s singing could be heard, filling the spacecraft with her unmistakable voice, a moment that quickly went viral.
On the ground, the emotional weight of the launch wasn’t lost. Oprah Winfrey, present to support her best friend Gayle King, was seen shedding tears as the rocket lifted off. Fellow celebrities, including Khloé Kardashian and Jeff Bezos, were also in attendance to witness the milestone moment.
“I didn’t expect it to be so emotional,” Kardashian said while watching the launch from the ground.
This was the first all-female spaceflight by the United States, and only the second globally in recorded space history. The last such occurrence was in 1963, when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Unlike the solo Soviet mission, this launch marked the first time multiple women filled every seat on a spaceflight.
The mission was Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight, and while the company didn’t disclose the cost of the journey or who funded it, it comes just two months ahead of Sánchez and Bezos’ upcoming wedding in Venice.
A Milestone for Blue Origin & Women in STEM
Founded by Bezos in 2000, Blue Origin continues to push the boundaries of commercial spaceflight. This launch not only made history but also highlighted the growing presence of women in science, technology, and exploration, inspiring the next generation of girls and young women to reach for the stars.
As the crew returned safely to Earth, the mission left more than just a trail of smoke across the Texas sky—it left a lasting legacy.
