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Pop star Katy Perry and five other trailblazing women successfully completed a historic suborbital spaceflight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket on April 14, marking the first all-female space mission in over 60 years. The launch took place in West Texas at 9:31 a.m. ET and lasted approximately 11 minutes, during which the crew experienced a brief period of weightlessness at the edge of space.
The six-member crew included Perry, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez, CBS journalist Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, space policy advocate Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Upon returning to their seats from zero gravity, Perry serenaded the group with “What a Wonderful World,” holding a daisy she brought to honor her daughter, Daisy.
Spectators at the launch included Oprah Winfrey, who showed emotional support for her close friend King, as well as reality stars Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian.
This mission marks a significant milestone in space tourism, showcasing Blue Origin’s efforts to commercialize space travel. While the company doesn’t publicly disclose ticket prices, a refundable deposit of $150,000 is required to begin the booking process. Past flights have ranged from $200,000 to a record $28 million bid in 2021.
Despite the buzz, experts question the financial viability of space tourism. Warwick Business School professor Loizos Heracleous estimates each New Shepard launch costs $1–$3 million, meaning ticket prices would need to reach around $500,000 per passenger to sustain operations profitably.
Blue Origin emphasizes rocket reusability as key to lowering costs and expanding accessibility. The flight also commemorates the legacy of Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, whose 1963 solo mission inspired generations of female space explorers.
