Blue Origin Makes History with First All-Female Spaceflight (Including Katy Perry)

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launched its first all-female crew, including Katy Perry, marking a milestone in space tourism. Here’s what happened.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Soars with Groundbreaking All-Female Crew

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin just made space history—and added some star power to the final frontier. On Monday morning, the company’s New Shepard rocket launched its first all-female crew, including pop icon Katy Perry, in a milestone for both space tourism and gender representation beyond Earth.

The mission, dubbed NS-25, marks the first all-woman civilian spaceflight since 1963, when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Here’s why this launch matters beyond the hype.

Meet the Trailblazing Crew

While Katy Perry stole headlines, the full team included:

🚀 Katy Perry – Grammy-winning singer and space enthusiast
🚀 Dr. Sian Proctor – Geologist and first Black female spacecraft pilot (previously flew on Inspiration4)
🚀 Vanessa O’Brien – Record-breaking mountaineer and explorer
🚀 2 Blue Origin astronauts – Company veterans completing the team

Fun Fact: At 62, O’Brien became the oldest woman to reach space, surpassing Wally Funk’s 2021 record.

Why This Launch Matters

1. A First for Civilian Spaceflight

• While NASA and Roscosmos have sent women to space, this was the first fully private, all-female mission.
• Proved space tourism isn’t just for “traditional” astronauts.

2. Bezos vs. Musk’s Quiet Rivalry

• Blue Origin lags behind SpaceX in orbital launches but leads in diversity-focused missions.
• Contrasts with SpaceX’s all-civilian Inspiration4, which included one woman (Proctor).

3. Celebrity Endorsement for Space

• Perry’s participation (and Instagram posts) could inspire younger generations—especially girls—to pursue STEM.

The Flight by the Numbers

⏱ Duration: 11 minutes (suborbital)
☄ Altitude: 66 miles (106 km) – Kármán line boundary
💺 Seat Cost: ~$1-2M (Perry’s rumored to have paid full price)
🎶 Soundtrack: Perry reportedly played “Firework” during weightlessness

Reactions & Controversies

🌟 Pro-Women in STEM Groups praised the mission as long-overdue representation.
🤔 Critics noted Blue Origin’s slow flight cadence (just 7 crewed launches since 2021 vs. SpaceX’s 70+).
🚀 Space Fans debated whether suborbital hops “count” compared to orbital missions.

Katy Perry’s Post-Flight Quote:
“Seeing Earth from space changed me. We’re all just one family on this tiny blue marble.”

What’s Next for Blue Origin?

• New Glenn Rocket: Orbital-class vehicle debuting late 2024 (SpaceX Falcon 9 competitor)
• Lunar Ambitions: Bezos still aims to beat SpaceX to the Moon with Blue Moon lander
• More Diversity Missions: Company hints at all-veteran or all-scientist crews soon

Final Thought: A Small Step for Womankind

While this 11-minute flight didn’t reach orbit, its symbolic impact could last decades. As Proctor told The Washington Post:

“Every time a little girl sees someone like her in space, the universe gets a little bigger for her.”

Do you think celebrity-led spaceflights help or trivialize space exploration? Debate below!