The New Shepard rocket launched with the Van Horn hills in the background and stayed in flight for about 11 minutes. Getty Images
Pop singer Katy Perry and five other women took a trip to space and made it back to Earth safely. The journey was with a private rocket company, and it only lasted about 11 minutes. Still, it gave the women a chance to see space and feel weightless for a few moments.
Katy Perry flew alongside Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to the rocket company’s founder, and Gayle King, a well-known TV host. Also on the flight were former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn.
The rocket launched from Texas around 8:30 in the morning. The rocket shot up over 100 km (62 miles), crossing the edge of space. After a short time floating in zero gravity, the capsule returned to the ground with parachutes, landing safely in the desert. The booster also landed by itself, a few miles from the launch site.
Once back, the women celebrated with hugs, cheers, and a few tears. Lauren Sánchez was the first to step out of the capsule. “I looked out of the window and we got to see the moon,” she said. “Earth looked so quiet, but really alive.”
Katy Perry kissed the ground and held a daisy in the air—her daughter’s name is Daisy. Gayle King also kissed the ground and said she just wanted to thank it. The last one to step out, Kerianne Flynn, smiled and shouted, “I went to space!”
Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Khloé Kardashian watched the launch. Oprah said Gayle King had always been afraid of flying, so this space trip was a big deal. “She has real-world anxiety when it comes to flying,” Oprah shared. “This was her overcoming fear.”
The spacecraft used no pilots. The crew trained for two days before the trip to prepare for emergencies and learn about weightlessness. Two extra team members also supported them—one guided them in person, while another stayed in the control room.
Image: Blue Origin
The last time an all-woman crew went to space was in 1963. Since then, many women have gone to space, but not in an all-female group. This flight, even though it was short, marked a big moment.
Some people loved the idea of women going to space. Others said it was just for show and only for the rich. Space experts pointed out that these flights don’t help science much and might hurt the environment.
The rocket company said the engine’s only byproduct is water vapor, which means no carbon pollution. But scientists warned that even water vapor at high altitudes can harm the ozone layer and affect the climate.
Tickets are expensive. Just the deposit is around $150,000, making it impossible for most people to afford. Still, supporters say private flights will bring more chances in the future.
Gayle King defended the mission, saying it inspired young girls. Lauren Sánchez said she hoped critics could see the hard work behind each launch.
Blue Origin, the rocket company, continues to build reusable rockets and plan future space missions. They say their goal is to lower costs and make space travel more common.
