Katy Perry and five other women flew into space in a Blue Origin rocket — becoming the first all-female crew to go beyond Earth’s atmosphere in more than six decades.
The US pop star joined the history-making crew on Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard NS-31 mission which launch from West Texas at 2.30pm BST on Monday.
The crew also includes journalist Lauren Sanchez, who is Mr Bezos’s partner, CBS Mornings presenter Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen and movie producer Kerianne Flynn.
Ahead of the launch, Perry wrote on Instagram: “I’ve dreamt of going to space for 15 years and tomorrow that dream becomes a reality.”
It marked the 11th human flight for the Blue Origin programme, which has taken passengers including Amazon chief executive Mr Bezos to space since 2021.
Sanchez, who rose to fame as a showbusiness journalist on US TV shows, said the mission was about inspiring others to “dream big”, and praised the women on board as “incredible storytellers”.
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That's all from us today
18:28 , Daniel KeaneThank you for following our live coverage.
'What an amazing crew,' says Blue Origin CEO
16:43 , Bill BowkettWhat an amazing crew! Great flight this morning. pic.twitter.com/4h5fNGpRRO
— Dave Limp (@davill) April 14, 2025
Rocket specifications
16:17 , Bill Bowkett
The New Shepard has a length of 19.2 meters (63 ft) and a diameter of 3.8 meters (12 ft).
It weighs 75 tonnes and its BE-3PM engine produces 490 kilonewtons (110,000 lbf) of thrust at liftoff.
The reusable spacecraft can reach speeds exceeding 2,000mph (3,200kph) and carries up to six passengers.
Perry describes experience as 'second to being a mum'
15:54 , Daniel Keane
Perry described the experience as "second to being a mum" and explained that it was "hard for me to go" due to her love for her daughter.
She also explained that she would be writing a song about the experience and revealed the setlist for her upcoming tour on the trip.
Perry: I felt 'connected to love' after returning to Earth
15:42 , Daniel KeaneSinger Katy Perry has said she feels "super connected to love" after returning to Earth following her trip on Jeff Bezos's New Shepard NS-31 embarking on the Blue Origin programme.
The Roar singer spoke about singing Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World while in space saying she sang it as her trip was "all for the benefit of Earth".
She said: "I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you, like how much love you have to give and how loved you are until the day you launch."
The 40-year-old continued: "It is the highest high, and it is surrender to the unknown, trust, and this whole journey is not just about going to space. It's the training, it's the team, it's the whole thing.
"I couldn't recommend this experience more. This is like up there with all the different tools that I've learned in my life."
'Earth looked so quiet,' says Sánchez
15:14 , Bill BowkettWe can now hear from the crew after their spaceflight.
Lauren Sánchez said: "I looked out of the window and we got to see the moon. Earth looked so quiet.”
Amanda Nguyen added: "I am so grateful to everyone who made it a reality.”
Gayle King noted: "I just want to have a moment with the ground, just appreciate the ground for just a second.”
And Aisha Brown commented: "There are no boundaries, there's no border, there's just earth."
And Kerianne Flynn, the last woman to get out of the capsule, recalled: "It was the most incredible experience of my life to be up there to see such vast darkness in space.”
Perry kisses ground
15:08 , Bill Bowkett
Sanchez embraces partner Bezos
15:06 , Bill Bowkett
Khloé Kardashian 'didn't realise how emotional it would be'
15:03 , Bill Bowkett
Speaking from the viewing platform alongside her mother Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian said: "I didn't realise how emotional it would be, it's hard to explain. I have all this adrenaline and I'm just standing here."
Watch the moment the New Shepherd lifted off
14:52 , Jacob PhillipsPictures reveal the moment the crew were blasted into space
14:51 , Jacob PhillipsHere are some of the best pictures so far from the historic launch.
All female crew drop back on earth in a puff of dust
14:43 , Jacob PhillipsThe six astronauts have shrieked with delight as they touched back down on Earth. Just over 10 minutes after taking off, the group are already back on solid ground.
A large cloud of dust appears as the capsule gently lands. There is no sign at this stage that anything has gone wrong and there appears to have been a safe, comfortable landing.
Rocket lands back on earth with a sonic boom
14:40And just like that, the New Shepherd rocket is back on the ground in a picture-perfect landing.
A sonic boom roars over the live stream as the rocket quickly lands back on Earth.
The capsule carrying the six astronauts is now also cruising back to Earth, with three large parachutes deploying behind the flight.
'Oh my god we are in space' shout astronauts
14:37 , Jacob PhillipsThe crew have made it 100kms in the air and made it to space.
Snippets from the spacecraft can be heard on the Blue Origin live stream.
The group are now weightless in space and can be heard shouting “look at the moon” and “oh my god we are in space” as they come to terms with the views.
The one-minute warning is then heard as the group is told they soon have to strap back into their seats.
'Vehicle is supersonic'
14:34 , Jacob PhillipsWe have just heard the command explain: “Vehicle is supersonic”.
The rocket has passed 80,000 feet and is at maximum velocity. The flight appears to be smoothly heading to the edge of space.
The six crew members will be able to unclip and enjoy the weightlessness of space in just a few seconds time.
Lift off
14:31 , Jacob PhillipsNew Shepherd has cleared that tower and the all-female crew is on their way to space.
The group have successfully taken off and is currently zooming up towards space.
They are expected to return to Earth in around 11 minutes time.
Kardashians, Oprah and female astronauts watch on
14:30The Kardashians, Oprah Winfrey and female astronauts have arrived to support the crew before take off.
Astronauts Emily Calandrelli and Sian Procter are among the group spotted at the site.
A daisy, shells and a national dish - what items are coming on the flight?
14:26 , Jacob PhillipsThe all female crew are taking a number of unusual items with them when they take off in just under 10 minutes.
Shells from Malaysia, a stuffed animal and conch chowder, the national dish of The Bahamas, which former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe grew up eating, are all being packed up on the space ship.
The original flag from Apollo 12 - the second mission to the moon - will also travel back up into space.
Katy Perry previously said that she was going to bring a daisy to space “to remind us that the world is very precious”.
Not long to go...
14:18 , Daniel KeaneThe launch will take place at 2.30pm.
There is no sign of any delay to the flight, we will have all the latest here as the Blue Origin takes off!
The six women on the crew
13:58 , Daniel KeaneThere are six women that will take part in today’s flight:
- Pop star Katy Perry
- Scientist Amanda Nguyen
- Journalist Gayle King
- Former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe
- Film producer Kerianne Flynn
- Journalist and fiancee of Jeff Bezos Lauren Sanchez
Katy Perry tears up when asked about her family
13:31 , Jacob PhillipsIn an interview broadcast by Blue Origin, pop star Katy Perry teared up while being asked about her family.
Perry became overwhelmed when she was asked what her message was to her family ahead of the flight.
“I’m going to be very emotional this weekend of course,” she said between tears. “It’s huge...
“My message to my family is that I love them so much and I am so full of love.
“I am so grateful to be representing a fearless female in my family which is a domino effect from my mum and my sister and definitely something I feel for my daughter.”
She said she was taking almost 300 bracelets to space from her Firework foundation as well as a daisy “to remind us that the world is very precious”.
She also plans to reveal her set list from her next tour in space.
Katy Perry reveals she plans to 'sing in space' as she reveals inside of rocket
13:05 , Jacob PhillipsKaty Perry is undertaking final preparations before she joins an all-female crew on a Blue Origin space flight - and has given a glimpse inside the rocket she will be blasting into space in.
The US pop star will join five other women for the first female-only mission in more than six decades.
The trip, launching at 2.30pm BST (8.30am local time) on Monday, is expected to last around 11 minutes, and pass over the Karman line – an invisible boundary 62 miles (100km) above Earth.
In a video shared to her Instagram, Perry took fans inside the capsule that she has been “training in for the last few days”, and revealed her call name is Feather.
The tiny capsule featured six seats, where Perry said all her other “astronaut girly friends” will sit, each with their name on it, and a large circle island in the middle.
In the clip, Perry also revealed that she plans to “sing in space”.
Perry added: “I do believe this (is happening) because believing your dreams and saying that is actually how you make your dreams come true.”
Where can you watch the lift-off?
12:11 , Jacob PhillipsThousands are expected to tune in live to watch the Blue Origin launch, with video coverage expected to begin within the next hour.
Blue Origin will be streaming its launch on YouTube, starting at 8am ET (1pm in the UK).
The event will also be streamed live on Paramount+ and broadcast on CBS.
Viewers can also expect plenty of updates on social media. Popstar Katy Perry has already shared footage of herself in her space costume as well as a quick glimpse inside the rocket itself.
You can see what the self-flying rocket looks like below and read more about who is on board the flight here.
Welcome to our Blue Origin live blog
12:00 , Jacob PhillipsWelcome to the Standard’s live blog covering the Blue Origin space launch.
In the next couple of hours, a celebrity lineup will become the world’s first all-female six-person crew to head to space.
On board Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace company flight, Firework singer Katy Perry, Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, CBS News anchor Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.
Taking off at around 2.30pm BST (8.30am local time) the trip is expected to last just 11 minutes as they travel beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space.
On board Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace company flight, Firework singer Katy Perry, Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, CBS News anchor Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.
You can read more about the trip here.
