Katy Perry and five other women successfully launched into space on Monday on the first all-female mission in more than six decades.
The crew lifted off on board an autonomous rocket made by Blue Origin, the private space firm owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
“I don’t really have words for it,” the billionaire’s fiancée Lauren Sanchez said in an interview following the flight. “Earth looked just so quiet.”
“It is the highest high and it is surrender to the unknown,” said Perry. “I couldn’t recommend this experience more.”
Perry and Sanchez were joined by CBS News host Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The only other all-female crew in 64 years of human spaceflight took place in 1963.
The rocket lifted off as part of Blue Origin mission NS-31 at 8:30 a.m. local time. The craft flew through space for around four minutes before floating back down to Earth, with the entire journey taking a little over 10 minutes.
When in space, Perry sang the song “What a Wonderful World.”
“It was a feeling of joy. It was a feeling of gratefulness,” Sanchez added.
Key Points
- Watch it: Katy Perry and all-female NS-31 crew make journey to space
- Katy Perry reveals why she sang 'What a Wonderful World'
- Lauren Sanchez is overcome with emotion speaking moments after stepping out of the capsule
- Oprah cries as she sees best friend Gayle King go into space
- Photos show NS-31 crew's minutes in microgravity
Aisha Bowe and Spotify release playlist for spaceflight
22:29 , Julia MustoMissed the launch? Catch the action again here
22:15 , Julia MustoAmanda Nguyen becomes the first Vietnamese woman to fly to space
22:00 , Julia MustoActivist Amanda Nguyen has become the first Vietnamese woman to fly to space.
“What justice feels like. I kept my promise. Touchdown,” she wrote in a social media post after returning to Earth.
The NS-31 crew floats around their capsule
21:44 , Julia Musto✨ Weightless and limitless. pic.twitter.com/GQgHd0aw7i
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
Who else was on the Blue Origin space trip with Katy Perry?
21:18 , Julia Musto
See it: New Shepard rocket booster lands on Earth
21:00 , Julia MustoThat never gets old! A new perspective of the booster landing. pic.twitter.com/6rGHfRZE37
— Dave Limp (@davill) April 14, 2025
Aisha Bowe reacts to criticism of the mission: It's 'bigger than the criticism'
20:53 , Julia Musto
Aisha Bowe, a former NASA engineer who was on board NS-31 on Monday, also spoke about criticism of the Blue Origin mission.
“I wish those who are criticizing the mission could read the messages in my inbox,” she said.
When I decided that I was going to pursue aerospace engineering, it was after my high school guidance counselor told me that I should pursue cosmetology because she did not think that I would be suited for this field. I went from pre-algebra and community college to do two degrees in aerospace engineering, to working for NASA, to being able to sit on the stage and say: ‘It is bigger than the criticism.’
Photos show NS-31 crew's minutes in microgravity
20:39 , Julia Musto
Lauren Sanchez responds to criticism regarding NS-31
20:30 , Julia Musto
Lauren Sanchez, the fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, responded to a question about public criticism at a press conference after their suborbital spaceflight.
“I would love to have them come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that don't just work here but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle,” Sanchez said. “They love their work and they love the mission and it's a big deal for them.”
“So, when we hear comments like that, I just say, ‘Trust me. Come with me. I'll show you what this is about.’ And, it's really eye opening,” she added.
Katy Perry and all-female crew land safely after being blasted into space on Blue Origin rocket
20:15 , Julia Musto
Katy Perry and all-female crew land safely after blasting into space
Video from inside Blue Origin space flight shows Katy Perry and crew in microgravity
19:40 , Julia MustoGayle King recalls the moments before entering the crew capsule: 'I was so afraid'
19:28 , Julia MustoREPLAY: A New Shepard tradition pic.twitter.com/dSexRmoZl7
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
CBS host Gayle King, a fearful flier, said she had seen a video of her walking to ring a silver bell before getting in the crew capsule.
Ringing the bell is a Blue Origin tradition, signaling to the stars that humans are headed their way.
“It’s because, at that moment, I was so afraid. I just wanted to get into my seat,” she explained, “because I just wanted to let the training kick in. I just wanted to get inside the capsule and sit down. So, the process of walking up there was a little daunting for me.”
Lauren Sanchez says looking into the darkness of outer space is 'like death'
19:16 , Julia Musto“You look at it and you go, ‘Wait a second. We’re all on this planet. All the people that we love: this is it,’” said NS-31 crew member and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez.
“We have one planet, because out there it’s dark,” she added “...William Shatner even said this when he went to space. And now, I understand what he was talking about. It’s like death.”
Shatner said his time in space filled him with “overwhelming sadness.”
Watch Blue Origin's post-launch press conference
19:15 , Julia MustoWatch the NS-31 post-launch press conference to hear from the crew about today's flight!https://t.co/2rY3AQcXvw
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
Activist Amanda Nguyen shares message for dreamers
19:37 , Julia Musto“What a beautiful world we have,” said activist Amanda Nguyen.
She said the scientific experiments she had brought into space with her were “done.”
"I just want every survivor and every person who's ever had a dream deferred to know that your dreams are valid," she said. "And even if your dreams are as wild as going to space, they matter. And you can get there too. If I can get there, you can get there too."
Jeff Bezos takes a tumble after Blue Origin ship returns
19:02 , Julia MustoBlue Origin says New Shepard has flown 58 people to space so far
18:39 , Julia MustoWe just completed our 11th human spaceflight and the 31st flight of the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
To date, New Shepard has flown 58 people to space. Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Qglt1p1Wc2
Watch it: Katy Perry and all-female NS-31 crew make journey to space
18:36 , Julia MustoGayle King has a message for 'haters' after Blue Origin flight
18:23 , Julia Musto
Following her quick trip to space, CBS host Gayle King said she "heard" the haters.
"I'm not going to let you steal our joy," she told reporters at a press conference on Monday, noting that most people were "really excited and cheering us on" and realizing "what this mission means to young women, young girls and boys, too."
Later on, King said that pushing to make space more accessible "isn't a zero-sum game.”
NS-31 crew take videos in space
18:04 , Julia Musto"Take up space!"
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 14, 2025
A daisy for Daisy, a Bahamas patch and a shoutout to Vietnam — here are the ways Blue Origin’s first all-women crew celebrated their moment in space, bringing their loved ones with them from the Earth below. https://t.co/fWre9mBiNZ pic.twitter.com/9DTpQPSYSs
Neil deGrasse Tyson reacts after NS-31 crew returns to Earth
17:56 , Julia MustoIn a post on Instagram, renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson reacted to the NS-31 mission early Monday afternoon.
“Some cast shade on celebrities getting launched into space. But the dawn of flight saw the same phenomenon. Rich, famous people flew aboard the first generation of aeroplanes. Attracting media, investors, and innovation -- birthing our modern aviation industry,” he wrote.
“Welcome back to Earth's surface Katy, Gayle, and crew,” said Tyson.
This was the third 2025 flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket
17:49 , Julia Musto
Monday morning’s launch marked the third flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket this year.
There was another crewed flight and a payload-only flight in February.
“I do believe New Shepard will be a very good business for us,” Dave Limp, chief executive of Blue Origin, said at the Commercial Space Conference that month, according to Space News.
NS-31 just flew above the Kármán line. What is it?
17:41 , Julia MustoDuring the roughly 10-minute flight, the six crew members of NS-31 flew above what is known as the Kármán line. But, what is it?
The Kármán line is an invisible boundary at an altitude of 62 miles above sea level that is widely accepted as the edge of space.
The boundary gets its name from Hungarian-American aerospace pioneer Theodore von Kármán.
Kármán was the first director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
Scientists worry about environmental impact of commercial spaceflight industry
17:27 , Julia Musto
"It's not about singing my songs. It's about a collective energy in there. It's about us. It's about making space for future women and taking up space and belonging,” popstar Katy Perry said after the Blue Origin launch on Monday.
“And it's about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it. This is all for the benefit of Earth,” she said.
But, scientists worry about the environmental impact of the burgeoning commercial spaceflight industry, and its potential to harm rapidly warming planet.
"Even if the suborbital tourism market is launching at a fraction of the number of launches compared to the rest of the [tourism] industry, each of their flights has a much higher contribution, and that could be a problem," Dallas Kasaboski, principal analyst at the space consultancy Northern Sky Research, told Space.com in 2021. He was speaking about potential pollution from the flights.
Jeff Bezos takes a tumble on way to greet NS-31 crew
17:08 , Julia MustoNevermind Jeff 😅 #BlueOrigin pic.twitter.com/ej5ef6sZnm
— John Calladine (@lardlikesdogs) April 14, 2025
This wasn't the first star-studded Blue Origin launch
16:55 , Julia Musto
This wasn't the first star-studded Blue Origin launch.
“Star Trek” actor William Shatner went to space in October 2021 at age 90.
“It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered,” Shatner wrote later.
ABC host Michael Strahan also launched later that year.
Strahan was joined by Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard, for whom the rocket is named.
NS-31 marks commercial spaceflight 11 for Blue Origin
16:41 , Julia Musto
The all-female NS-31 mission was the 11th human spaceflight for the Washington state-based aerospace company Blue Origin.
Blue Origin has declined to say how much the flight cost or who paid for what.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Katy Perry reveals reason she brought a daisy on Blue Origin space mission
16:22 , Julia Musto
Katy Perry reveals reason she brought a daisy on Blue Origin space mission
Activist Amanda Nguyen carried scientific research projects onto the flight
16:22 , Julia MustoAisha Bowe recalls looking down at Earth from space: 'There's no boundaries'
16:05 , Julia MustoFormer rocket scientist Aisha Bowe said everyone “looked at each other” when they got out of their seats in space.
“There’s no boundaries. There’s no border. There’s just Earth,” she recalled. “It’s incredible.”
When was the last all-female spaceflight?
15:59 , Julia MustoMonday’s Blue Origin launch was the nation’s first all-female spaceflight.
The only other all-female crew was in 1963 when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova launched by herself, becoming the first woman in space.
Tereshkova spent three days off Earth.
Why was Oprah Winfrey wearing yellow for the launch?
15:51 , Julia MustoAmerican media mogul Oprah Winfrey donned yellow for her best friend’s rocket launch because CBS host Gayle King’s identifying call sign is “Sunshine.”
The NS-31 crew saw a pink moon. Here's what to know
15:48 , Julia Musto
A pink moon dazzled skywatchers over the weekend.
The fourth full moon of the year, it is named seasonal pink wildflowers known as creeping phlox, according to NASA.
The plant is native to the eastern U.S. and is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.
This pink moon is also a micromoon. A micromoon will appear smaller and dimmer than usual, instead of brighter and fuller.
Oprah cries as she sees best friend Gayle King go into space
15:41 , Julia MustoBlue Origin shares NS-31 mission stats after flight
15:40 , Julia MustoKey stats from today’s New Shepard crewed NS-31 mission:
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
The Crew Capsule reached an apogee of 346,802 ft AGL / 350,449 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).
The booster reached an apogee of 346,481 ft AGL / 350,128 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).
Official launch time was…
Images show historic New Shepard rocket launch
15:38 , Julia Musto
Katy Perry sang ‘What a Wonderful World’ in space, Gayle King reveals
15:27 , Julia Musto
Lauren Sanchez gets emotional talking about history of US spaceflight
15:27 , Julia Musto“Alan Shepard did the same exact flight and he became the first American in space,” Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez said in a post-flight interview.
“And, six women just did the same flight that he did,” she noted, becoming emotional.
Alan Shepard became the first American and the second man in space on May 5, 1961.
See it: Katy Perry kisses the ground after arriving back from space
15:17 , Julia MustoSinger Katy Perry said she feels 'connected to love' after spaceflight
15:17 , Julia MustoSinger Katy Perry says that the experience made her feel “super connected to love.”
“To go to space is incredible and I wanted to model courage and worthiness and fearlessness,” she said.
CBS News host Gayle King says she 'can't even believe' what she saw
15:14“I can’t even believe what I saw,” said CBS News host Gayle King.
“To me, it’s such a reminder about how we need to do better, be better,” she said.
Gayle King says Katy Perry sang 'What a Wonderful World' while up there
15:10 , Julia MustoCBS News host Gayle King said singer Katy Perry sang the song “What a Wonderful World” in space.
The song was first recorded by American trumpeter and vocalist Louise Armstrong.
Lauren Sanchez is overcome with emotion speaking moments after stepping out of the capsule
15:07 , Julia Musto and Rhian Lubin“I don’t think you can describe it. It was, like, quiet, but then also really alive. You look at [the Earth] and you’re like, ‘We’re all in this together.’ We’re so connected. More connected than you realize,” Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez said. “All these things that divide us but we’re not.”
When asked how she was feeling, Sanchez said: “Complete and utter joy and gratefulness. It makes me want to come back and hug everyone…we’re in this together. I didn’t expect to be this emotional.”
Singer Katy Perry, crew mates cheer after the flight
15:04 , Julia Musto
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Lauren Sanchez hugs fiancée Jeff Bezos after successful rocket flight
14:58 , Julia Musto
'It takes your breath away': Khloe Kardashian reacts to the launch
14:50 , Julia Musto“It’s incredible. It takes your breath away,” Khloe Kardashian said following the successful launch and touch down of the NS-31 crew.
Lauren Sanchez and Katy Perry show off ‘flattering and sexy’ space suits ahead of Blue Origin launch
14:49 , Julia Musto
Lauren Sanchez and Katy Perry show off ‘flattering and sexy’ Blue Origin space suits
See it: NS-31 crew lands on Earth
14:45 , Julia Musto
Katy Perry launched into space on Blue Origin rocket
14:44 , Julia MustoThe NS-31 crew successfully touch down on Earth
14:41 , Julia Musto
The NS-31 crew are cheering in space
14:37The NS-31 crew are cheering as they reach apogee.
We have lift-off!
14:32 , Julia MustoThe NS-31 mission has lifted off from its West Texas launchpad. It’s now more than 80,000 feet and climbing.
There is less than one minute to launch
14:30 , Julia MustoThere is less than one minute left to launch.
Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian arrive at the Blue Origin launch
14:26 , Julia MustoOprah says she has 'never been more proud' of Gayle King
14:25 , Julia Musto“We’ve been friends - it will be 50 years next year,” media mogul Oprah Winfrey said of CBS host Gayle King.
“And, I have never been more proud of my friend than today,” she said.
All systems are 'go' for launch
14:22 , Julia MustoAll systems are “go” for launch less than nine minutes before lift-off
Gayle King talks about her decision to join NS-31 mission
14:21 , Julia Musto“When I made the decision to come, there were only three people whose opinions matters to me the most: favorite daughter Kirby, favorite son Will, and Oprah,” CBS host Gayle King explained in a sit-down interview. “That’s my kitchen cabinet.”
“And, all of them said, ‘I think you should do it’ - much to my surprise,” she noted.
Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian say they're 'honored' to be there
14:15 , Julia Musto“We’re here to support our girlfriend and our friends,” said Kris Jenner.
“And, we’re just so honored to be here to support them and watch this amazing part of history. And, I’m so proud of her,” she added.
“It’s such a big day in history and it’s so empowering,” said Khloe Kardashian.
Jeff Bezos gives final words of support before leaving capsule
14:07 , Andrew GriffinJeff Bezos is the partner of Lauren Sanchez, who is taking the trip, as well as being the founder of Blue Origin and a previous traveller on one of the same journeys. He went into the capsule with the crew this time.
He has just left, after speaking to the crew.
“Most amazing, most profound experience,” he says. “I don’t want to get off, I want to go with you. When you get back, I want to hear how it’s changed you. Godspeed.”
Less than half an hour until launch
14:04 , Andrew GriffinThe countdown clock has now ticked past 30 minutes. The crew are loaded into the capsule and final checks – including ensuring that they are safely strapped in with their seatbelts, and that are able to communicate with the ground – are taking place.
Katy Perry shares three word update before launch
13:40 , Greg EvansJust two hours before the launch Perry told fans on X/Twitter “I LOVE YOU”.
The NS-31 mission patch features symbols that represent all five women on board
13:30 , Greg EvansThe patch that the six astronauts will wear on Monday feature symbols that represent all five women that will be travelling into space.
According to an Instagram post from Kerianne Flynn, the symbols are as follows:
“The target star symbolizes @aishabowe ‘s ambition for setting big goals, passion for STEM, and commitment to inspiring future generations.
“The scales of justice symbolize @amandangocnguyen ‘s efforts to advocate for civil rights, break barriers, and empower everyday people to create change.
The shooting star microphone represents @gayleking ‘s commitment to sharing important stories with the world.
“The firework symbolizes @katyperry ‘s global influence across music, pop culture, and philanthropy.
“The film reel symbolizes @kerianneflynn ’s passion for filmmaking, storytelling, and crafting beautiful narratives.
“Flynn the Fly, the main character in @laurenwsanchez ’s bestselling children’s book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, is along for the ride. The story is about overcoming adversity, inspiring kids with learning differences to pursue their dreams.”
Sanchez confirms she'll be wearing Kim Kardashian's SKIMS underwear in space
13:15 , Greg EvansSpeaking to the New York Times about the space suits that she designed, along with Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, Sanchez revealed that she’ll be wearing a pair of Kim Kardashian’s Skims underwear into space.
On the outfits themselves, Sanchez told the NY Times: “Let’s reimagine the flight suit. Usually, you know, these suits are made for a man. Then they get tailored to fit a woman. I think the suits are elegant but they also bring a little spice to space.
“Simplicity was important, and comfort, and fit. But we also wanted something that was a little dangerous, like a motocross outfit. Or a ski suit. Flattering and sexy.”
