Pop singer Katy Perry, TV host Gayle King, and a group of remarkable women made history on Monday morning by embarking on the first all-female flight to space in decades. This milestone event took place aboard Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission, which launched from West Texas and lasted just over ten minutes. The mission marked a significant moment, being the first all-female crew in space since the legendary Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova orbited Earth in 1963.
The crew included not only Perry and King but also former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. They briefly soared above the Kármán Line, the recognized boundary of space, reaching about 62 miles above the Earth.
The launch event attracted many celebrities, including Perry’s daughter Daisy and her husband, actor Orlando Bloom. Gayle King’s close friend, Oprah Winfrey, was also in attendance, along with other notable figures like Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian.
Before the launch, the crew participated in an interview with Elle magazine, where they shared their feelings about the mission. Perry described the experience as “glam,” while King expressed her nerves, saying it reminded her of the anxiety she felt during childbirth.
Despite the excitement, the mission faced some criticism. Actress Olivia Munn questioned the purpose of the flight, suggesting it was a frivolous endeavor rather than a meaningful contribution to space exploration. Some comments on social media echoed her sentiments, arguing that the crew was merely passengers on a short trip with no real objectives.
However, many others defended the mission, celebrating the successful flight and the significance of having an all-female crew. One supporter noted that the important part was their safe return to Earth, emphasizing the achievement over the criticisms.
As the NS-31 mission concluded, it not only highlighted the progress women have made in fields like space exploration but also sparked a broader conversation about the role of private space travel in society.