Roaring to the Stars: Katy Perry, Gayle King Join Historic All-Female Blue Origin Space Flight (NS-31)
Apr 15, 2025, 2:15 PM | Skymet Weather Team
Passengers on The Historic Blue Origin’s All-Female Flight | Image: Yahoo/Skymet
(April 15, 2025): Yesterday marked a significant milestone in space exploration and popular culture as Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' commercial spaceflight company, successfully launched its NS-31 mission. This mission featured a groundbreaking all-female crew, including global pop superstar Katy Perry and renowned broadcast journalist Gayle King. This historic flight captivated audiences worldwide, blending celebrity star power with a pivotal moment for women in space.
Blast Off: The NS-31 Mission Details
Who Flew: The crew, brought together by journalist and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez (Jeff Bezos' fiancée), included Katy Perry, Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyễn, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The Rocket: The flight took place aboard Blue Origin's reusable New Shepard rocket, launching from the company's site in West Texas.
The Journey: The suborbital spaceflight lasted approximately 10-11 minutes, taking the crew past the Kármán line (the internationally recognized boundary of space, about 62 miles or 100 km high). Passengers experienced several minutes of weightlessness, offering breathtaking views of Earth and the darkness of space.
Historic Significance: This was the first multi-person human spaceflight with an entirely female crew. The only prior all-female flight was Valentina Tereshkova's solo mission in 1963.
"What a Wonderful World": Katy Perry Sings in Space
Adding a unique touch to the mission, Katy Perry reportedly sang Louis Armstrong's classic "What a Wonderful World" while experiencing microgravity, moved by the view of Earth from space. Both Perry and King expressed awe upon returning, with King, a self-proclaimed nervous flyer, calling it a "bona fide freakin' flight" and Perry kneeling to kiss the ground. Perry carried a daisy, a tribute to her daughter, symbolizing hope and reaching for the stars.
Trailblazing Women Take Up Space
The NS-31 mission wasn't just about celebrity space travel; it was a powerful statement. Lauren Sánchez intentionally assembled this diverse group of accomplished women to inspire future generations.
Aisha Bowe: A former NASA rocket scientist and STEM advocate, becoming the first person of Bahamian descent in space.
Amanda Nguyễn: A Nobel Peace Prize nominee and advocate, becoming the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space.
Kerianne Flynn: A filmmaker focused on impactful storytelling.
Gayle King: Award-winning journalist stepping out of her comfort zone.
Katy Perry: Global music icon and philanthropist, using her platform to empower.
Blue Origin and the Rise of Space Tourism
This flight marks Blue Origin's 11th human spaceflight, adding Perry and King to a growing list of high-profile passengers who have experienced a trip on New Shepard, including William Shatner and Michael Strahan. The mission underscores the expanding frontier of space tourism and commercial spaceflight, making the dream of space travel accessible to more individuals, although ticket prices remain high and largely undisclosed.
Image Courtesy: Yahoo/ Skymet
