Photo Credit: Getty Images
Blue Origin's Mission NS-31 made history on April 14, 2025, as the first all-female spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's 1963 solo mission. The eight-minute journey from West Texas carried six trailblazing women to the edge of space and back.
The crew included pop star Katy Perry, CBS journalist Gayle King, Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez, former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyễn, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Their New Shepard rocket launched at 9:30 a.m. EDT, reaching a maximum altitude of 350,449 feet.
"It's oddly quiet when you get up there," King reflected afterward. "It's really quiet and peaceful, and you look down on the planet and think: That's where we came from? To me it's such a reminder about how we need to do better, be better."
Hundreds of thousands watched the livestream while celebrity friends—including Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian—witnessed the launch in person. Audio captured the crew's excitement during their minutes in zero gravity.
Each woman brought deeply personal items aboard. Perry carried a daisy, representing both her daughter and resilience. "Daisies grow through any condition... they are powerful, they are strong," she explained after landing. Nguyễn brought a hospital bracelet from after her sexual assault, later telling survivors: "You can heal, no dream is too wild."
The mission wasn't without critics. Actress Olivia Munn questioned its purpose on "Today With Jenna and Friends," calling it "a bit gluttonous" and arguing: "Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind."
For King, who fears flying, the journey marked personal triumph. "I stepped out of my comfort zone in a way that I never thought possible," she said, adding that she now feels she "can take on anything."
After successful separation from the booster, the capsule deployed three parachutes for a controlled landing. Mission control welcomed them back: "Congratulations, and welcome back to Earth."
The crew emerged emotional—some crying, others pumping fists. Perry and King knelt to touch the ground with their hands. Perry revealed she'd sung parts of "What a Wonderful World" during their weightless moments and confirmed she'll "100%" write a song about the experience.
NS-31 marked Blue Origin's 11th human flight since operations began in July 2021. While ticket prices remain undisclosed, reservations reportedly require a $150,000 deposit, with previous seats auctioning for up to $28 million.
