Blue Origin’s all-female crew including Katy Perry returns safely on Earth after spaceflight: A detailed look at the mission and reactions

TOI Science Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 15, 2025, 14:11 IST

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In a historic feat, six women, including Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez, journeyed to space on Blue Origin's New Shepard. The eleven-minute flight crossed the Karman line. The crew included scientists and celebrities. They shared emotional reactions upon their return. Blue Origin's reusable spacecraft is fully autonomous. This mission marks the first all-female spaceflight in over six decades.

Blue Origin’s all-female crew including Katy Perry returns safely on Earth after spaceflight: A detailed look at the mission and reactions

(Blue Origin’s all-female crew returns safely on Earth after spaceflight | Image source: BBC)

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.

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