Historic All-Women Space Mission: Katy Perry, Gayle King and Others Make History with Blue Origin
On April 14, a landmark event in space exploration took place as an all-female crew launched into space aboard Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission. This historic flight included singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and other prominent women, marking the first all-women spaceflight since the solo mission of Valentina Tereshkova in 1963.
The NS-31 crew, assembled by Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, also included former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Together, they launched from West Texas, traveling to the Kármán line, located 62 miles above Earth, and remaining in space for approximately 11 minutes.
Mixed Emotions and Support
The anticipation of this groundbreaking journey was met with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Katy Perry, who shares a daughter with her fiancé Orlando Bloom, explained how she discussed the flight with him, seeking his support. ‘We respect each other so much,’ she shared. ‘So, we want to get input from each other, and he is also all about the journey.’
Gayle King also sought the opinions of her loved ones before agreeing to partake in the mission, confiding in her children and close friend Oprah Winfrey for guidance. ‘Once Kirby and Will and Oprah were fine with it, I was fine,’ King stated.
Criticism and Purpose
Despite the enthusiasm, the mission was not without criticism. Actress Olivia Munn raised concerns about the motivations behind the flight, asking, ‘What are you guys gonna do up in space? What’s the point?’ However, Lauren Sánchez countered that the crew’s journey represents an inspiration for future generations, emphasizing, ‘All of these women are storytellers in their own right.’
Aiming for the Stars
Founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, Blue Origin aims to make space travel accessible to all and leverage the resources of space to benefit Earth. Their vision includes millions living and working in space and reducing the cost of space travel through reusable technology.
The Journey Ahead
The NS-31 mission symbolizes more than just a trip to space; it embodies a significant step for women in STEM and aims to inspire the next generation of explorers and leaders. This event will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on the journey of space exploration.
