Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission, spearheaded by Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, will launch a pioneering all-women crew to the edge of space on Monday, marking the first female-only spaceflight in over six decades.
The six-member team including Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, and former NASA engineer Dr. Aisha Bowe—will ascend 100km aboard the New Shepard rocket from Texas, crossing the Kármán line into space.
Boom, boom, boom Katy Perry is looking for an adventure brighter than the moon, moon, moon. 🚀 https://t.co/vraJ3qEyDm pic.twitter.com/zOhUaw7vhZ
— E! News (@enews) April 13, 2025The 11-minute suborbital flight, part of Blue Origin’s initiative to democratize space access, aims to inspire global audiences by showcasing women’s leadership in STEM and entertainment. The crew will experience four minutes of weightlessness during the journey while observing Earth through the capsule’s panoramic windows. Sánchez, curating the mission, emphasized selecting women who “inspire through their achievements,” from Perry’s cultural influence to Bowe’s aerospace expertise.
The mission holds historical significance as the first all-female crew since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s 1963 solo flight. While the crew will reach space, FAA and NASA guidelines preclude their designation as “astronauts” due to differing criteria for commercial flights.
On Monday, @BlueOrigin is scheduled to launch an all female crew into space including music superstar @KatyPerry. @PriscillaWT has more for #SundayTODAY.https://t.co/xT1Uh7aAya
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 13, 2025Notably, the journey represents personal milestones: Perry fulfilled a 20-year aspiration, while King admitted initial hesitation, citing “trepidation” about the risks. Nguyen and Flynn echoed sentiments of empowerment, viewing the mission as a platform to advocate for gender equality.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard program has now flown 52 individuals, including Bezos and Star Trek’s William Shatner, who described his 2022 flight as emotionally transformative. The NS-31 launch underscores the growing role of private space ventures in advancing inclusivity and accessibility beyond governmental programs.
