Blue Origin successfully launched and landed its 11th human space flight on Monday. The mission, named NS-31, made history as the first all-female crewed space flight since 1963.
The flight carried six women, including several public figures. Among them were singer Katy Perry, television host Gayle King, and Lauren Sanchez, a former journalist and fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. They were joined by former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and space researcher Amanda Nguyen.
The spacecraft, Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule, lifted off from the company’s Launch Site One in the West Texas desert. The vehicle soared past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, located 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth.
After the rocket separated, the crew experienced weightlessness. The women floated inside the capsule, looking out at Earth and enjoying a few minutes in zero gravity. According to King, Perry sang part of “What a Wonderful World” as the group returned to their seats.
“It’s oddly quiet when you get up there,” King said during Blue Origin’s livestream. “It’s quiet and peaceful, and you look down at the planet and think, ‘That’s where we came from?’ To me, it’s a reminder that we need to do better, be better human beings.”
Among the spectators on the ground was media mogul Oprah Winfrey, King’s longtime friend. Winfrey appeared both excited and emotional during the livestream. At one point, she covered her eyes as the capsule launched into space.
The mission lasted about 10 minutes. After reentering Earth’s atmosphere, the capsule—nicknamed Tortoise—parachuted safely back to the desert floor. A cloud of dust rose as it landed, met by cheers from the crowd and confirmation from mission control.
“Congratulations and welcome back to Earth,” the crew was told after touchdown.
As the capsule door opened, the women stepped out smiling and emotional. They embraced Jeff Bezos and the Blue Origin team. Perry and King kissed the ground.
King, known for her fear of flying, said the journey was deeply personal. “I stepped out of my comfort zone in a way that I never thought was possible for me,” she said. “And now that I’ve done it, I really do feel like I can take on anything.”
Related topics:
- Southwest Airlines Offers 30,000 Bonus Points and Companion Pass in Limited-Time Deal—Here’s How to Claim It Before March 31
- U.S. Moves to Block Canadians From Historic Border Library, Sparking Outrage
- North America Set for Rare Sunrise Solar Eclipse – Here’s How and Where to Watch
