Space is not just for astronauts anymore. Pop icon Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King are packing their bags for the edge of the Earth. They are part of Blue Origin’s next big mission: An all-female space crew blasting off on the New Shepard rocket.
Perry and King are joining four other powerhouse women to ride the New Shepard past the Kármán Line, the invisible border 62 miles above Earth where space officially begins.
Blue Origin is Changing Space Tourism
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has turned space into the hottest ticket in town. Since 2021, the New Shepard has taken civilians – celebrities and big spenders – on short but thrilling trips above our planet. The rocket launches from a desert site in West Texas and gives passengers a few minutes of weightlessness and some wild views out of massive windows.
With six women on board, this flight marks a bold shift in how we think about who gets to go to space.
Katy Perry and Gayle King are Going All in
The iconic pop star is used to big stages, but this one is 330,000 feet high. The pop star, known for chart-toppers and out-of-this-world performances, will soon be floating above Earth. Right next to her? Gayle King, veteran news anchor and co-host of CBS Mornings, is swapping the studio desk for a zero-gravity seat.
Marca / This mission is about breaking norms, opening doors, and showing the next generation that space isn’t off-limits.
It is for artists, journalists, and anyone bold enough to get in the capsule.
The Rest of the Crew is Just as Impressive!
Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, brings a voice for justice to space. Aisha Bowe, once a NASA rocket scientist, adds deep technical chops and represents the power of science and representation.
Filmmaker Kerianne Flynn is along for the ride, ready to capture the experience in a way only a creative mind can. And then there is Lauren Sánchez, Bezos’ fiancée, who has quietly built her own identity as a pilot and advocate for female-led missions.
The Experience is Quick, Wild, and Completely Surreal
This is not a week-long stay on a space station. The New Shepard trip is short and sweet, just over ten minutes from launch to landing. But those ten minutes pack a punch.
Once the rocket crosses the Kármán Line, the crew will experience a few minutes of total weightlessness. Just floating. Looking down at Earth from above.
The capsule’s huge windows offer a rare view: a glowing curve of the planet, wrapped in the thin blue line of the atmosphere. For most people, it is a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
For this all-female crew, it is also a platform to inspire millions watching from the ground.
GTN / For decades, space was locked behind a wall of government programs, expensive training, and exclusivity. Blue Origin is tearing that wall down.
But this launch is not just about access. Seeing six diverse, accomplished women float in space sends a powerful signal: The idea of who belongs in space is getting a much-needed rewrite.
Who Has Been to Space on New Shepard Before?
Blue Origin has hosted some big names in the past. William Shatner, the original Captain Kirk, took a real-life trip to the stars at age 90. NFL great Michael Strahan suited up and soared high above the Earth. Even Bezos himself hopped on the New Shepard’s first human flight in 2021.
Since then, the company has kept the launches coming, sending a mix of science-minded travelers, celebrities, and deep-pocketed dreamers into space. But this latest mission? It is the first of its kind. Six women, no gimmicks, just a serious step forward.
