Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, and an All-Female Crew Make Space History With Blue Origin…
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket made headlines around the world as it launched the first all-female space crew since 1963 — and this time, it wasn’t just a scientific mission, it was a cultural milestone.
The 11-minute suborbital flight, designated NS-31, lifted off from Blue Origin’s West Texas site, reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometers (62 miles), past the Kármán line — the internationally recognized boundary of space. The mission highlighted women in leadership, science, storytelling, and pop culture.
The historic star crew consisted of six men, viz:
- Katy Perry, global pop icon
- Gayle King, veteran CBS journalist
- Aisha Bowe, aerospace engineer and former NASA contractor
- Amanda Nguyen, civil rights advocate and founder of Rise
- Kerianne Flynn, film and television producer
- Lauren Sánchez, Emmy-winning journalist, licensed pilot — and the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
Sánchez, who curated and led the mission, described it as “a tribute to all the women breaking barriers — in science, in media, and in space.” This was the first time in over six decades that an all-female crew ventured into space, following in the footsteps of Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.
During their brief but emotional journey, Katy Perry sang “What a Wonderful World” while holding a daisy — a nod to her daughter, Daisy Dove. The crew experienced several minutes of weightlessness and witnessed Earth from the edge of space, reporting a deep sense of awe and unity.
Gayle King later described the moment as “surreal and humbling,” and Sánchez said, “No camera, no script — just six women floating above the world together. It changes you.”
The high-profile nature of the crew — especially Sánchez’s dual role as mission organizer and Jeff Bezos’ partner — attracted both praise and scrutiny. Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, and other celebrities cheered from the ground, but some critics questioned the timing and substance of space tourism amid global issues.
Still, supporters argue that showcasing women — and especially women of color — in such a visible mission can inspire future generations and redefine who belongs in space.
NS-31 was not just a launch. It was a symbol. A privately funded, female-led, high-profile flight that blurred the lines between science, storytelling, and symbolism. For Blue Origin, it’s another proof point in the push toward commercial, inclusive space travel. For Lauren Sánchez, it was both personal and historic.
As one crew member said after touchdown: “We didn’t just go to space — we took millions of girls with us.”
