Blue Origin, the commercial spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos, recently achieved a milestone in space history. On Monday, six women undertook a short journey to outer space, marking the first all-female spaceflight since the early 1960s, a feat accomplished with Blue Origin’s new rocket, the New Shepard. The mission took off from Blue Origin’s launch facility in Van Horn, Texas, around 9:30 AM Eastern Time.
Among the crew was singer Katy Perry, accompanied by Gayle King, CBS Morning host, and Lauren Sanchez, former journalist and fiancée to Jeff Bezos. Also part of the mission were NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, and movie producer Kerianne Flynn. The mission lasted approximately ten minutes, during which the crew crossed the Karman Line, an altitude recognized as the boundary of outer space.
This pioneering journey was witnessed by a prominent audience including Oprah Winfrey, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, former astronaut Mae Jemison, and celebrities Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner. Following the successful launch and landing, the capsule’s descent utilized parachutes and concluded safely in the Texas desert.
The women onboard engaged in activities such as handstands in zero gravity, and Katy Perry sang “What a Wonderful World” while holding a daisy flower. In discussing the choice of the flower, Perry emphasized the resilience it represents: “Daisies are common flowers, but they grow through any condition. They are resilient. They are powerful. They are strong.”
Blue Origin hailed the mission a success, with both the reusable booster and the capsule making safe returns. The experience left the all-female crew emotionally charged, with Perry and King seen kissing the ground upon arrival and overwhelmed with tears. This crucial event has highlighted the capabilities of Blue Origin’s space technology and underscored ongoing support for women’s advancement in aerospace.
