All-Female Blue Origin Spaceflight Featuring Katy Perry Successfully Returns to Earth
Historic NS-31 Mission Marks First All-Female Space Crew Since 1963
Blue Origin, the private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has successfully completed a historic mission with its New Shepard rocket, launching and safely returning an all-female spaceflight crew. The suborbital mission, named NS-31, lifted off on April 14, 2025, from Blue Originโs West Texas launch site and marked a pivotal moment in space exploration and gender representation in the industry.
First All-Women Crew Since Valentina Tereshkovaโs Solo Flight
The NS-31 mission is the first all-female crewed spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkovaโs historic solo mission aboard Vostok 6 in 1963. Unlike the Soviet cosmonautโs three-day journey in orbit, the Blue Origin flight was suborbital and lasted approximately 11 minutes, offering passengers a brief experience of weightlessness beyond the Kรกrmรกn line, which defines the boundary of space at 100 kilometers above sea level.
Star-Studded Female Crew Makes History
The diverse and influential six-member crew aboard NS-31 included:
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Katy Perry Global pop icon and philanthropist
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Gayle King Co-host of CBS Mornings and veteran journalist
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Aisha Bowe Former NASA rocket scientist and tech entrepreneur
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Kerianne Flynn Film producer and creative director
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Amanda Nguyen Civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee
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Lauren Sรกnchez Journalist and fiancรฉe of Jeff Bezos
The mission was organized in part by Sรกnchez, highlighting a broader vision for inclusivity and empowerment in the commercial space sector.
Each woman contributed to the custom mission patch named โThe Six Taking Up Spaceโ, symbolizing their unique backgrounds and missions. For example, Amanda Nguyenโs symbol was a weighing scale to reflect her advocacy for justice, while fireworks on the patch honored Katy Perryโs cultural impact.
Launch and Reentry: Smooth and Spectacular
The New Shepard rocket launched at 9:31 AM ET (1331 GMT) and traveled briefly past the edge of space before descending safely back to Earth. The reusable spacecraft offered the crew panoramic views of Earth and a few minutes of weightlessness, during which they floated inside the capsule and expressed awe at the blackness of space.
The landing occurred without incident, marking the 11th crewed flight and the 31st overall mission of Blue Originโs New Shepard program. The vehicle has previously been used for both commercial spaceflights and scientific research missions.
A Milestone Moment for Women in Space
The NS-31 mission is not only a technological achievement but also a significant cultural milestone, bringing public attention to the expanding role of women in the space industry. As private space travel becomes increasingly accessible, missions like this set a precedent for more diverse and inclusive future spaceflights.
