Blue Origin Launches All-Female Celebrity Space Crew/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Blue Origin launched an all-female celebrity crew to space, led by Lauren Sanchez and joined by Katy Perry and Gayle King. The 10-minute suborbital flight marked a milestone in space tourism and women’s representation in space. It was the first U.S. spaceflight to feature an entirely female crew.
Blue Origin’s All-Female Launch: Quick Looks
- Crew Highlights: Lauren Sanchez, Katy Perry, and Gayle King among fliers
- Mission Type: 10-minute suborbital spaceflight from West Texas
- Historical First: First all-female U.S. spaceflight crew
- Rocket Used: Blue Origin’s New Shepard
- Inspiration Goal: Team aimed to empower future generations
- Special Guests: Oprah Winfrey attended launch celebration
- Other Crew: Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Kerianne Flynn
- Space Tourism: Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight
Blue Origin Launches All-Female Celebrity Space Crew
Deep Look
Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, achieved another milestone in commercial spaceflight Monday with its first all-female celebrity space crew—a flight led by Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez and featuring pop icon Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King.
The New Shepard rocket lifted off from West Texas for a brief but powerful 10-minute journey to the edge of space. The capsule soared to an altitude of 65 miles (105 kilometers), offering the passengers a few minutes of weightlessness and panoramic views of Earth before safely returning.
Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, assembled the all-female team for this special mission and dedicated the launch to inspiring women and girls around the world to pursue space and science. The crew also included:
- Aisha Bowe, an aerospace engineer and former NASA staffer who founded science-focused companies
- Amanda Nguyen, a scientist and activist for survivors of sexual violence
- Kerianne Flynn, a film producer and longtime friend of Sanchez
Making Space History
This marked the first U.S. spaceflight where every crew member was a woman, a significant moment in the 64-year history of human spaceflight. Prior to this, the only all-female space mission was in 1963, when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova flew solo for three days.
Despite growing access to commercial space travel, women still represent only about 15% of all space travelers. The mission was meant to challenge that norm.
“It’s an important moment for the future of commercial space travel and for humanity in general and for women all around,” said Katy Perry in an interview with The Associated Press.
Each passenger wore a custom-designed flight suit, reinforcing the mission’s symbolism and visibility. The passengers were launched aboard a fully autonomous system, with no onboard pilots needed.
Launch Celebration and High-Profile Guests
The celebrity flight drew big names to West Texas. Oprah Winfrey attended in support of friend Gayle King, while several past Blue Origin fliers—including previous women in space—were also present.
While ticket prices were not disclosed, the flight was partially funded by a $6 million spaceflight campaign promoting STEM education and women’s empowerment, sources familiar with the mission said.
Blue Origin’s Celebrity Legacy
This latest launch continues Blue Origin’s growing legacy of celebrity and civilian space missions. Since its first human flight in 2021, when Jeff Bezos himself flew, the company has hosted several public figures, including:
- William Shatner, the “Star Trek” icon, who flew at age 90
- Michael Strahan, former NFL star and TV host
- Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard
- Wally Funk and Ed Dwight, aviation pioneers who fulfilled lifelong dreams at ages 82 and 90
To date, 58 individuals have flown aboard Blue Origin, with a mix of scientists, entrepreneurs, TV hosts, and social media influencers.
The Global Space Tourism Boom
The mission comes during a surge in global interest in commercial spaceflight, as private companies offer new opportunities beyond traditional astronaut programs.
Rival firm SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, offers multi-day orbital trips and private spacewalks, and has flown billionaires like Jared Isaacman, who is currently awaiting Senate confirmation to lead NASA.
Meanwhile, international space tourists are also making headlines. Chun Wang, a Chinese-born bitcoin investor, recently completed the first flight to circle the poles, paying an undisclosed amount to fly with SpaceX and a team of polar explorers.
“In this exciting new era of commercial spaceflight, the dream of becoming an astronaut is no longer limited to a select few,” Wang said on X (formerly Twitter).
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