In a milestone for commercial spaceflight and gender representation in space, six women—including global celebrities and professionals from diverse fields—safely returned to Earth after completing a suborbital journey aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The mission, launched on April 14, 2025, from West Texas, marked the first all-female spaceflight in over six decades and sparked widespread public interest and debate on the future of space tourism.
According to The BBC, the flight, operated by Blue Origin, the private aerospace company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, lasted approximately 11 minutes and crossed the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space, 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level. This mission was not just a symbolic celebration of women in space but also a demonstration of Blue Origin’s technological capabilities and ambitions in the expanding commercial space sector.
Katy Perry, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez among others inside Blue Origin’s female space crew
The six-member crew featured a blend of celebrity and scientific expertise:
- Katy Perry – Grammy-nominated pop artist, who sang “What a Wonderful World” during the flight.
- Lauren Sánchez – Former journalist and Bezos’ fiancée, who has played an increasing role in Blue Origin’s operations.
- Gayle King – CBS presenter, whose presence on the flight was celebrated as a personal victory over her long-standing fear of flying.
- Aisha Bowe – Former NASA rocket scientist and advocate for women in STEM.
- Amanda Nguyen – Civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
- Kerianne Flynn – Film producer and long-time space enthusiast.
The crew’s successful journey was followed by a parachute-assisted capsule landing in the Texas desert, where they were met with cheers from Blue Origin staff and family members.
Blue Origin all-female crew share post-flight reactions: “Earth looked so quiet”
Following their safe return, the astronauts shared emotional reactions to their brief but transformative experience.
Lauren Sánchez, the first to step out of the capsule, said, “Earth looked so quiet,” calling the moment indescribable. Katy Perry kissed the ground and held up a daisy, a nod to her daughter Daisy. Gayle King knelt down to embrace the Earth, stating, “I just want to have a moment with the ground.” Kerianne Flynn triumphantly declared, “I went to space,” pointing to the sky.
Among the celebrity observers on the ground were Khloé Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey commended King’s courage, revealing her fear of turbulence and celebrating her personal growth.
The technology behind Blue Origin’s New Shepard flight
Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft is a fully autonomous, reusable system designed for suborbital flights. The vehicle features:
- A rocket booster capable of vertical landing.
- A crew capsule with panoramic windows for space viewing.
- Full automation, requiring no pilot intervention.
- Safety systems designed to protect passengers in emergencies.
Passengers undergo a two-day training program focused on emergency protocols, safety briefings, and zero-gravity acclimatization. Each mission is also supported by “Crew Member Seven,” a non-flying team providing real-time support.
A historic all-female milestone
This flight marks the first all-female mission since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s 1963 solo flight aboard Vostok 6. While women have participated in numerous missions since then, an all-female crew had not occurred in over 60 years. Blue Origin stated that this mission aimed to highlight the achievements and future possibilities for women in space exploration.
Blue Origin’s broader vision
Founded in 2000, Blue Origin is expanding beyond tourism. The company is developing:
- Reusable orbital rockets.
- Lunar landing systems for NASA’s Artemis program.
- Orbital habitats and infrastructure for long-term space habitation.
While ticket prices remain undisclosed, Blue Origin requires a $150,000 deposit for prospective passengers—highlighting the exclusivity of its early-stage offerings.
