Blue Origin completes historic all-female spaceflight
Pranjal Chandra | Apr 14, 2025, 22:34 IST
Blue Origin's New Shepard made history by launching an all-female crew, the first since 1963, including Katy Perry and Gayle King. The mission, from Van Horn, Texas, reached beyond the Kármán line, granting the crew weightlessness and stunning Earth views. Crew members shared emotional reflections, emphasizing resilience and the importance of inspiring future generations.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket made history today as it successfully launched an all-female crew into space, marking the first all-female flight since Valentina Tereshkova's groundbreaking 1963 journey. The mission, which lasted just over 10 minutes, took place at Blue Origin’s private launch site in Van Horn, Texas, and included a diverse group of trailblazing women from various fields.
The star-studded crew included pop sensation Katy Perry, TV personality Gayle King, journalist Lauren Sánchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics expert Amanda Nguyen, and movie producer Kerianne Flynn. The crew lifted off at 9:30 a.m. ET and soared above the Kármán line, reaching an altitude of 346,000 feet, just over 62 miles, which is considered the boundary of space. The capsule safely descended under parachutes, landing back in the Texas desert.
Throughout the flight, the crew experienced weightlessness and marveled at the sight of Earth from space. Nguyen, a rape survivor and advocate for sexual violence survivors, expressed a powerful message, encouraging others to pursue their dreams despite adversity. “If I can get there, you can get there too,” she said, reflecting on the significance of the moment.
A spaceflight full of emotion
The crew shared their emotional reactions after the mission, with many noting how the experience shifted their perspectives. Bowe described the awe of seeing Earth without borders, saying, "I will never be the same." Perry, who brought a daisy to space in honor of her daughter, explained how the experience was a reminder of resilience and strength. “Daisies are common flowers, but they grow through any condition,” she said.
For Gayle King, the journey was an opportunity to confront her fears. Known for her open discussions about anxiety, King said that the peacefulness of weightlessness allowed her to reflect on humanity’s need to "do better, be better." She also praised her fellow crew members, noting that the flight was not about one individual, but about showcasing the power of women in space.
A symbolic and scientific achievement
Blue Origin’s vision for space exploration continues to push boundaries. Audrey Powers, the head of flight operations for the New Shepard program, emphasized the company's goal of making space more accessible to everyone, highlighting the importance of such missions for both scientific and societal progress. Powers herself flew on Blue Origin’s 2021 mission, alongside Star Trek’s William Shatner.
The New Shepard mission is a part of Blue Origin’s ongoing efforts to make space travel more routine, with a long-term vision of enabling a future where humans can live and work in space. The company’s reusable rocket technology has helped reduce costs and expand opportunities for commercial space exploration.
Celebrity support and public engagement
The launch garnered widespread attention, not just from space enthusiasts but also from the celebrity world. Oprah Winfrey was visibly emotional as she watched her close friend, Gayle King, board the spacecraft. Other high-profile figures, including Kris Jenner and Khloé Kardashian, were also in attendance, further highlighting the significance of this moment for popular culture.
The mission’s symbolic power is evident, especially in terms of its impact on young people. Gayle King addressed the critics of space tourism, stating that while it’s important to focus on improving life on Earth, space exploration is not a "zero-sum game." She emphasized the importance of inspiring future generations, saying, "It’s about showing young girls and boys what’s possible."
Touchdown and aftermath
After the capsule touched down safely in the West Texas desert, the newly minted astronauts were greeted by friends and family, including Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin’s founder, who was on hand to welcome the crew back. The emotional reunion was followed by a press conference where the crew members shared their experiences and thoughts on the significance of their journey.
As Blue Origin’s CEO Dave Limp tweeted, “What an amazing crew! Great flight this morning.” The mission may have been brief, but its impact on space tourism, gender representation, and the future of human space exploration is just beginning to take shape.
This historic flight marks another step forward for Blue Origin in its quest to make space a more inclusive frontier. As the world watches, the crew's remarkable journey continues to inspire and spark conversation about humanity's place in the cosmos.
The star-studded crew included pop sensation Katy Perry, TV personality Gayle King, journalist Lauren Sánchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics expert Amanda Nguyen, and movie producer Kerianne Flynn. The crew lifted off at 9:30 a.m. ET and soared above the Kármán line, reaching an altitude of 346,000 feet, just over 62 miles, which is considered the boundary of space. The capsule safely descended under parachutes, landing back in the Texas desert.
Throughout the flight, the crew experienced weightlessness and marveled at the sight of Earth from space. Nguyen, a rape survivor and advocate for sexual violence survivors, expressed a powerful message, encouraging others to pursue their dreams despite adversity. “If I can get there, you can get there too,” she said, reflecting on the significance of the moment.
A spaceflight full of emotion
The crew shared their emotional reactions after the mission, with many noting how the experience shifted their perspectives. Bowe described the awe of seeing Earth without borders, saying, "I will never be the same." Perry, who brought a daisy to space in honor of her daughter, explained how the experience was a reminder of resilience and strength. “Daisies are common flowers, but they grow through any condition,” she said.
For Gayle King, the journey was an opportunity to confront her fears. Known for her open discussions about anxiety, King said that the peacefulness of weightlessness allowed her to reflect on humanity’s need to "do better, be better." She also praised her fellow crew members, noting that the flight was not about one individual, but about showcasing the power of women in space.
A symbolic and scientific achievement
Blue Origin’s vision for space exploration continues to push boundaries. Audrey Powers, the head of flight operations for the New Shepard program, emphasized the company's goal of making space more accessible to everyone, highlighting the importance of such missions for both scientific and societal progress. Powers herself flew on Blue Origin’s 2021 mission, alongside Star Trek’s William Shatner.
The New Shepard mission is a part of Blue Origin’s ongoing efforts to make space travel more routine, with a long-term vision of enabling a future where humans can live and work in space. The company’s reusable rocket technology has helped reduce costs and expand opportunities for commercial space exploration.
Celebrity support and public engagement
The launch garnered widespread attention, not just from space enthusiasts but also from the celebrity world. Oprah Winfrey was visibly emotional as she watched her close friend, Gayle King, board the spacecraft. Other high-profile figures, including Kris Jenner and Khloé Kardashian, were also in attendance, further highlighting the significance of this moment for popular culture.
The mission’s symbolic power is evident, especially in terms of its impact on young people. Gayle King addressed the critics of space tourism, stating that while it’s important to focus on improving life on Earth, space exploration is not a "zero-sum game." She emphasized the importance of inspiring future generations, saying, "It’s about showing young girls and boys what’s possible."
Touchdown and aftermath
After the capsule touched down safely in the West Texas desert, the newly minted astronauts were greeted by friends and family, including Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin’s founder, who was on hand to welcome the crew back. The emotional reunion was followed by a press conference where the crew members shared their experiences and thoughts on the significance of their journey.
As Blue Origin’s CEO Dave Limp tweeted, “What an amazing crew! Great flight this morning.” The mission may have been brief, but its impact on space tourism, gender representation, and the future of human space exploration is just beginning to take shape.
This historic flight marks another step forward for Blue Origin in its quest to make space a more inclusive frontier. As the world watches, the crew's remarkable journey continues to inspire and spark conversation about humanity's place in the cosmos.