Katy Perry joins all-female crew for historic Blue Origin spaceflight
On April 14, 2025, pop star Katy Perry joined an all-female crew on a historic suborbital spaceflight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The 10-minute journey launched from West Texas and reached the edge of space, offering a brief experience of weightlessness. The six-member crew included journalist Gayle King, philanthropist Lauren Sánchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, astronaut and scientist Amanda Nguyen, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn.
During the flight, Perry sang “What a Wonderful World” while holding a daisy as a tribute to her daughter. She later thanked Blue Origin and called the experience an incredible journey.
The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission 1963. It was also Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight.
However, the flight sparked a polarized debate on space tourism’s priorities and messaging. Critics, including Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Munn, slammed the flight for its environmental impact and perceived extravagance during global hardships.
Despite the backlash, participants like Gayle King defended the mission’s inspirational value for young women. Perry stated she was on the mission because “it’s an important moment for the future of commercial space travel, for humanity in general, and women.”
The mission was a significant milestone in the history of space exploration, highlighting advancements in space tourism and ongoing discussions about its implications.
Photo: Katy Perry on Instagram
