Blue Origin's New Shepard Flies Katy Perry in All-Women Crew

Blue Origin’s New Shepard program completed its 11th human flight on Apr. 14, 2025, marking the first all-female crewed commercial spaceflight since 1963. The mission reached the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space at 100 km above Earth—and successfully returned to Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site after an 11-minute journey.

The crew included six women: Katy Perry (entertainer), Lauren Sánchez (journalist and vice chair of Bezos Earth Fund), Gayle King (CBS host), Amanda Nguyen (civil rights activist and scientist), Aisha Bowe (aerospace engineer and former NASA scientist), and Kerianne Flynn (film producer). The flight utilized Blue Origin’s reusable New Shepard rocket, which achieved a velocity of Mach 3 during its ascent.

“The Earth was so quiet but also really alive. We are all in this together. I wanted to come back. I’m getting married,” said Sánchez, who led the flight and is engaged to Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos.

✨ Weightless and limitless. pic.twitter.com/GQgHd0aw7i

— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025

Katy Perry described the experience as “the highest high,” saying it transcended traditional space tourism. “It is about surrendering to the unknown, it is trust, and this journey is about more than going to space,” she said. Holding a daisy flower she brought in honor of her daughter, Perry explained, “Sometimes daisies are seen as weeds, but they are resilient. They grow under any condition.”

During the flight, the crew experienced approximately three minutes of weightlessness, floating freely inside the capsule. Live footage captured Perry holding the daisy and a butterfly, while Aisha Bowe held a Bahamas flag card. Upon reentry, the capsule detached from the booster and landed softly two miles from the launchpad.

Aisha Bowe became the first Bahamian woman to fly to space. “Alan Shepard’s spacecraft landed in the Grand Bahama in 1961. Today, I had the opportunity to be on a flight that mirrored that trajectory,” she said, referencing the New Shepard rocket named after the astronaut.

“What a beautiful world we have. It was a phenomenal dream to operate science in space. I want every survivor who has had a dream deferred to know that their dreams are valid,” said Amanda Nguyen, who conducted basic scientific experiments aboard the capsule and reflected on her career blending civil rights advocacy with scientific exploration.

Gayle King expressed surprise at the serenity of the experience. “I was so well trained and prepared, but I did not expect it to feel so calming and peaceful. I walked out thinking I could do anything,” she said.

Blue Origin’s Vice President of Mission and Flight Operations, Audrey Powers, highlighted the mission’s significance, stating she was “immensely proud” of the crew. The New Shepard program has now carried 52 individuals to the edge of space.

Despite the mission’s achievements, it faced criticism for its symbolism. Actor Olivia Munn questioned its value amid global challenges. However, the crew emphasized the broader inspiration and transformation their journey aimed to represent.