Pop star Katy Perry and veteran journalist Gayle King have completed a historic suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
The 11-minute journey marks the first all-female space mission since 1963. Also aboard the vessel was Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who organised the mission. Joining them were former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The crew experienced a few minutes of weightlessness after crossing the Kármán line – the recognised boundary of space – before safely returning to Earth.
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Upon landing, Perry expressed profound emotion, stating, “I feel super-connected to love,” and revealed she carried a daisy into space in honor of her daughter, Daisy.
King described the experience as both terrifying and exhilarating, likening it to childbirth, and humorously added, “I may now get my ears pierced.”
Sánchez, a licensed pilot and former television journalist, emphasised the mission’s significance, saying, “I was up there and you see Earth … it’s like this jewel.”
This flight represents a milestone in space exploration, highlighting the growing presence of women in the field. Notably, Bowe became the first Bahamian woman in space, and Nguyen the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to achieve this feat.
The mission attracted a star-studded audience, with Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian among those present to witness the launch.
While the event was broadly celebrated as a step forward for gender representation in space travel, it also faced criticism. Some commentators questioned the mission’s value, suggesting it appeared more indulgent than meaningful.
Despite the debate, the crew hoped their journey would inspire future generations. As Perry noted, “It’s about making space for future women.”