The Blue Origin all-female spaceflight made history on Monday as six women, including celebrities and scientists, traveled to space aboard the New Shepard rocket. Among the passengers were pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and Lauren Sanchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The launch window opened at 9:30 am ET, and the rocket lifted off as scheduled from Blue Origin’s West Texas site. The mission marked the first all-female spaceflight in more than 60 years.
The crew also included astrophysicist Aisha Bowe, activist and bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn. Blue Origin confirmed that this mission was the 11th human flight for its reusable rocket and the 31st overall.
The New Shepard spacecraft, standing 18 meters tall, carried the crew to the Kármán line, which marks the edge of space at 100 kilometers above sea level. Passengers experienced a few minutes of microgravity before safely returning to Earth using parachute-assisted landing in the desert.
This flight holds special significance. The last time an all-female crew entered space was in 1963, when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space during her solo mission.
The Blue Origin all-female spaceflight not only spotlighted women in space but also showcased how commercial space travel is opening new doors for civilians, celebrities, and professionals alike.
Blue Origin, founded by Bezos, continues to expand its ambitions in space tourism. This mission reflects a growing trend of inclusive and symbolic flights designed to inspire future generations.
