Katy Perry, Gayle King, and other prominent women return to earth after a thrilling trip to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard rocket.
Katy Perry, Gayle King, and a group of prominent women have successfully completed a historic journey to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard rocket. The all-female crew, including Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sánchez, reached the Kármán line—the internationally recognised boundary of space—on Monday morning, taking part in a brief but thrilling space adventure. The mission, which marked another milestone for Bezos’s space tourism company Blue Origin, lasted just three minutes, during which the crew floated weightlessly in the rocket’s capsule before returning safely to Earth.
The launch, which took place at a private ranch in Texas, was a highly anticipated event. With Oprah Winfrey in attendance to cheer on her longtime friend Gayle King, the crew’s journey was both a personal and public celebration of space exploration. King remarked on the significance of the mission, noting, “This is bigger than just going to space… it’s about continuing to grow into the fullest expression of yourself.”
As the rocket ascended into the atmosphere at a maximum velocity of 2,300mph (Mach 3), passengers were heard expressing awe at the experience. One exclaimed, “Oh my goddess,” as the capsule reached its peak altitude of 62 miles (100 km) above the Earth’s surface. Another shouted, “I love you, Jeff Bezos,” in reference to the space mogul who led the mission. Upon descending, the capsule made a soft landing on the Texas plains, just two miles from the launchpad.
Perry, visibly emotional after her journey, kissed the ground upon her return, joined by Gayle King. In a post-flight interview, Sánchez, who is set to marry Bezos this summer, spoke about the profound connection she felt with Earth after experiencing space. “The Earth was so quiet but also really alive,” Sánchez said, adding, “We are all in this together, and some connected.”
The flight, which had elements of both exhilaration and introspection, offered Perry a chance to reflect on her journey. “It’s about surrender to the unknown, it’s trust, and this whole journey is about more than just going to space,” Perry shared, describing the experience as akin to meditation. The pop star, who has long held an interest in astrophysics and astronomy, said she had prepared by reading books on the cosmos and string theory. “We are all made of stardust, and we all come from the stars,” she remarked.
However, some have questioned whether the all-female space trip is a true feminist milestone or simply a marketing move for Blue Origin’s commercial space tourism. US actor Olivia Munn, during a guest appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, called the trip “a bit gluttonous,” pointing out that there are pressing global issues that could have been addressed with the resources spent on the space flight.
The crew also included Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, all of whom were guests of Lauren Sánchez. The flight marked the 11th human journey for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, which has successfully carried 52 people to the Kármán line since its inception.
Despite the criticism, the mission was a significant step for Blue Origin in terms of both promoting space tourism and showcasing the contributions of women in space exploration.
