Katy Perry and All-Female Crew Become Latest Astronauts

Monday morning an all-female six-member crew became the first female-only crew aboard a spaceship since the 1960s. Monday’s flight was the most recent launch of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin private spaceflight company.

Making history were singer Katy Perry, TV journalist Gayle King, and Bezos’ fiance, Lauren Sanchez. Rounding out the crew were two scientists, Aisha Bowe and Amanda Nguyen, and movie producer Kerianne Flynn.

Blue Origin’s NS-31 liftoff began at 9:30 am in Van Horn, Texas. The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, achieving an altitude of 346,802 feet before the capsule touched down in the nearby desert. Blue Origin’s New Shepard booster also returned successfully, landing vertically, as intended, just miles from where the launch began.

The crew members became official space travelers after their ship passed the boundary of earth’s atmosphere and entered space, which is generally acknowledged as beginning 62 miles above sea level. Monday’s flight marked the 11th crewed spaceflight for the company.

The Historic Flight Attracted Big Names

The crew members weren’t the only celebrities at the launch. There were also plenty of recognizable public figures in attendance, including King’s long-time best friend, Oprah Winfrey, who says she urged King to take the flight to help her deal with her fear of flying.

Other famous people there to show support were Kris Jenner and daughter Khloe Kardashian. Kardashian left the door open to the possibility that she might one day join the growing list of celebrity astronauts. After experiencing a rush of adrenaline while watching the flight, she said her chances of joining a future crew became more enticing.

Not only were previous Blue Origin crew members in attendance, but interestingly, the historic occasion attracted spaceflight veterans from both collaborative and competitive space programs. In addition to NASA veterans Mae Jemison and Jeanette Epps, there were Hayley Arceneaux from SpaceX, Sian Proctor from Inspiration-4, and Kellie Herardi from Virgin Galactic.

Crew Members Shared Their Reactions

Blue Origin’s vice president, Audrey Powers, encouraged the women to tell the world about their flight and how it made them feel. Power flew aboard her company’s flight in 2021 with the actor William Shatner. 

Amanda Nguyen

Nguyen said that dreams matter even if they’re wild, like the goal of traveling to space. Nguyen survived rape and said she wanted other survivors to know that their dreams were valid.

Astronauts can choose a small item that can serve as their indicator of zero gravity. The astronauts simply release their hold on the item to see if it floats. Nguyen used a hospital wristband as a symbol of her fight for survivors of sexual violence.

Gayle King

King addressed haters of space tourism, emphasizing what the all-female crew signaled to young women. The first all-woman crew was a crew of one - the Soviet Union’s Valentina Tereshkica in 1963. In total, women make up only 14% of all the people who have reached space.

The co-host of “CBS Mornings” credits the experience for requiring her to step outside her comfort zone. According to her, she now has the confidence to take on any challenge.

Aisha Bowe

Bowe says the flight changed her permanently. She remembers the moment when they reached space, and they all looked at each other, bonding over a shared experience.

Katy Perry

For Perry, the flight is only exceeded by her becoming a mother. She bought a daisy aboard in recognition of her daughter named Daisy and to represent resilience. She said the daisy was appropriate because the ordinary flower can thrive almost anywhere despite sometimes unfavorable conditions.

How the Groundbreaking Launch Day Unfolded

Early Monday morning, Bezos traveled with the crew from the company’s astronaut training center to the launch pad, talking to the astronauts and wishing them well. Bezos and his brother were aboard the company’s first flight in 2021.

Hall of Fame professional football player and TV host Michael Strahan wished the crew well by pre-recorded video. Strahan also ventured into space in 2021 once Blue Origin began accepting tourists. 

Events Aboard the Spaceship

At its fastest, the spaceship traveled three times the speed of sound or Mach 3 to push the astronauts near the edge of space. The booster and capsule then separated, with the booster returning to earth while the capsule continued past what is commonly called the Kármán Line. The Kármán Line is the generally accepted boundary where, on one side, conventional aircraft can operate safely and where, on the other, spacecraft become necessary. 

During the flight, Perry’s fellow crew members kept urging her to sing. The star was reluctant because she didn’t want to draw undue attention to herself but finally relented and performed “What a Wonderful World.”

Events on the Ground

Spectators on the ground reported first seeing the return of the reusable booster and then hearing a sonic boom. Finally, they spotted the parachutes of the crew’s capsule.

Bezos himself opened the capsule, greeting Sanchez, the first to exit. Perry and King left next, both kissing the ground.