In a moment marking a milestone in both space exploration and women’s representation, six high-profile women including Gayle King safely returned to Earth on April 14, 2025. The group completed Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission, the first all-female passenger flight by the private aerospace company. The New Shepard rocket launched from the company’s site in West Texas at 9:30 a.m. EDT and soared past the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth, crossing the threshold into space.
The Space Crew
The star-studded crew included pop sensation Katy Perry, CBS anchor Gayle King, philanthropist and pilot Lauren Sánchez, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. The brief but groundbreaking flight lasted just over ten minutes, with the passengers experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness.
Sánchez, who helped organize the mission, described the flight as deeply emotional. “It was a feeling of joy and camaraderie,” she said. “All I could think about was, we’re all connected, more connected than you realize.”
Katy Perry, wearing a custom space suit adorned with musical notes, floated in the cabin and serenaded her fellow travelers with “What a Wonderful World.” After landing, she called the flight “the highest high” she’s ever experienced.
Gayle King was equally moved. “We are forever bonded,” she said while embracing her fellow crew members after touchdown. King noted that the journey was more powerful than she had expected. “When you look down at Earth, it changes something inside you,” she said.
Amanda Nguyen, who is also a scientist, used the opportunity to conduct brief experiments on women’s health and plant biology in microgravity. She became the first Vietnamese American woman in space.
Despite widespread praise, the mission drew some criticism. Actress Olivia Munn publicly questioned the timing of the flight, arguing that space tourism promotes billionaire ventures at a time of growing inequality. However, supporters viewed the flight as a bold symbol of progress.
As the capsule gently landed in the desert, it was clear that the NS-31 mission wasn’t just a celebrity moment—it was a cultural one. For many, it offered a glimpse of an inclusive future in space.