On Monday, a historic all-female crew, including pop star Katy Perry, launched into suborbital space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-31 from West Texas, marking the 11th human spaceflight for the company and the first-ever multiperson spaceflight without male crew members.
Accompanying Perry were notable figures such as Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and Lauren Sánchez, who organized the flight and is engaged to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.
The mission drew significant celebrity support, with Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian among those cheering on the crew.
Oprah Winfrey appears to have tears in her eyes as her longtime friend journalist Gayle King is launched into space aboard a Blue Origin rocket. https://t.co/KXvijV8Dea pic.twitter.com/p07mNMJbGE
— ABC News (@ABC) April 14, 2025
Learn more about the all-new VT News and subscribe today!
Upon returning from the 10-minute flight, King expressed her pride and amazement at the journey, emphasizing the importance of this milestone for women in space.
Perry carried a daisy flower to honor her daughter, reflecting on the emotional significance of the flight. She also reportedly “couldn’t help” but sing “What a Wonderful World” during her time in space, eschewing her own music for a song to celebrate the collective achievement.
“It’s not about me. It’s not about singing my songs,” Perry said following the flight. “It’s about a collective energy in there. It’s about us.”
Bezos aims to promote accessible space travel for civilians through similar initiatives.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Got a hot scoop or an idea for a story? Connect with the VT writers on Minnect!
Add comment