WEST TEXAS- Blue Origin (OBE) completed a historic all-women crew space flight from its launch facility near Van Horn, Texas. The mission featured six prominent female passengers including pop star Katy Perry and CBS Mornings host Gayle King.
Led by Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos’s fiancée, the crew briefly crossed the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space—experiencing approximately three minutes of weightlessness before returning safely to Earth aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft.
Blue Origin All-Women Crew Space Flight
The groundbreaking flight took off at 9:30 a.m. ET from Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site, marking the company’s 11th human spaceflight mission. This particular journey stands out not only for its all-female crew composition but also for the diverse backgrounds of its participants.
The crew included renowned media personality Gayle King, who expressed humility about being called an astronaut despite qualifying for the title after this journey. “I still get very uncomfortable when people say ‘astronaut,'” King remarked before the flight. “I in no means feel like an astronaut.”
Katy Perry, preparing for her cosmic experience, immersed herself in space literature, including Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” and books on string theory.
“I’ve always been interested in astrophysics and interested in astronomy and astrology and the stars,” Perry told the Associated Press. “We are all made of stardust, and we all come from the stars.”
Crew Remarks
Gayle King described the profound serenity she experienced during weightlessness on her recent spaceflight. Looking down at Earth triggered deep reflections about humanity’s origins and responsibilities. “And you look down at the planet, you think that’s where we came from,” she said. “And to me, it’s such a reminder about how we need to do better.”
The flight featured an unexpected musical moment when Katy Perry sang “What a Wonderful World” in space. Despite encouragement from fellow crew members to perform one of her own hits, Perry insisted the moment transcended personal promotion.
King, who has publicly acknowledged her fear of flying, expressed immense pride in conquering her anxieties. “I stepped out of my comfort zone in a way that I never thought was possible for me,” she said. “And now that I’ve done it, I really do feel like I can take on anything.”
Fellow crew members Amanda Nguyen and Kerianne Flynn responded emotionally when recounting their experiences. Nguyen, an advocate for sexual violence survivors, brought a hospital wristband as her zero gravity indicator—an object that signals weightlessness when it begins floating. “I’m so grateful to the thousands of people—the engineers, scientists, everyone—who has made this a reality,” Nguyen said.
Lauren Sánchez revealed that her spaceflight experience defied expectations, noting that Earth appeared simultaneously tranquil yet vibrant. “I feel I don’t even know how much it’s going to change me,” she said, describing overwhelming sensations of joy and gratitude throughout the journey.
From the ground, Khloé Kardashian shared her excitement as a spectator at the historic all-female launch. “It’s incredible,” she said. “It takes your breath away. And I feel like I have all this adrenaline, and I’m just standing here.” Accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner at the viewing, Kardashian admitted the successful mission made future space travel “a little more enticing” for them both.
The Flight Experience and Mission Details
The New Shepard vehicle carried the six passengers just above the Kármán line, located at an altitude of 62 miles (approximately 100 kilometers).
After experiencing the sensation of weightlessness and observing Earth from space, the capsule made its descent under parachutes, landing safely in the Texas desert. The entire journey lasted approximately 10 minutes from launch to touchdown.
This mission adds to Blue Origin’s growing record of space tourism flights, with the company having now taken 52 people beyond the Kármán line through its New Shepard program.
The spacecraft, named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, continues to serve as Blue Origin’s primary vehicle for human spaceflight.
Diverse Perspectives on Space Tourism
While celebrated as a milestone for female representation in space, the mission has also prompted discussions about the purpose and value of commercial space tourism. Some critics, including actor Olivia Munn, questioned the priorities behind such ventures.
“I know this is not the cool thing to say, but there are so many other important things in the world right now,” Munn commented during a television appearance, characterizing the trip as “a bit gluttonous.”
However, supporters argue that increasing access to space for diverse groups serves both as inspiration and as a crucial development for the growing commercial space industry. Former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, both passengers on the flight, represent the potential for space exploration to inspire future generations of women in STEM fields.
ALSO READ: Virgin Galactic Launches New Commercial Spaceflight Service
Commercial Space Industry Evolution
Blue Origin’s all-women flight represents another step in the rapidly evolving commercial space industry. Founded by Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin competes with other private space companies like SpaceX (SXE) and Virgin Galactic (VGC) in developing reliable, reusable space transportation systems.
The New Shepard program specifically focuses on suborbital tourism flights, providing passengers with brief experiences of spaceflight and weightlessness. While these journeys don’t reach orbit, they offer participants the coveted status of having crossed into space by international standards.
Blue Origin continues to develop larger orbital launch vehicles alongside its tourism program, with the goal of expanding human presence in space through sustainable, reusable technology.
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