Pop icon Katy Perry has added a new title to her resume: space traveler. In a historic flight on April 14, 2025, she joined five other trailblazing women aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket for an 11-minute journey to the edge of space—and back. The mission marks the first all-female space crew since 1963, turning heads around the world and reigniting dreams of space tourism.
The Blue Origin launch took off at 9:31 a.m. ET from West Texas and reached suborbital space, offering the passengers a short but unforgettable moment of weightlessness before their smooth return to Earth. The flight was broadcast live, showcasing a blend of excitement, elegance, and empowerment as six extraordinary women broke new ground together.
Katy Perry wasn’t alone in this historic ride. The all-star crew included Lauren Sanchez (fiancée of Jeff Bezos), veteran journalist Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. This remarkable lineup demonstrated not just celebrity power, but the strength and capability of women from diverse professional backgrounds stepping into a traditionally male-dominated arena.
After experiencing weightlessness, Perry serenaded the crew with a touching rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” channeling the emotion of the moment. She also carried a daisy with her—a personal tribute to her daughter, Daisy. “I feel super connected to love,” she shared after landing, encapsulating the emotional core of this monumental experience.
The launch attracted a galaxy of stars. Oprah Winfrey was spotted shedding tears of joy as she watched her close friend Gayle King blast off. Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian were also present to support the milestone mission.
This was Blue Origin’s New Shepard Mission NS-31, part of its larger vision to make space travel accessible. While ticket prices remain sky-high—reportedly up to $200,000, with some bids in the past reaching $28 million—Blue Origin claims to be working on making space tourism more affordable through reusable rocket technology. Currently, a refundable $150,000 deposit is required to begin the booking process.
Still, experts argue that true affordability for the general public is years away. According to Loizos Heracleous, a professor at Warwick Business School, each launch costs between $1 to $3 million. That translates to roughly $500,000 per seat just to break even. “It will take a long, long time before space tourism becomes a viable business for everyday people,” he noted.
Regardless of the economics, this flight was about more than dollars. It was about dreams, representation, and making history. The image of six women, including one of the world’s biggest pop stars, soaring into space is sure to inspire a new generation of girls to look up—and believe they belong among the stars.
