Lauren Sánchez and pop star Katy Perry, alongside an all-female crew, embarked on an 11-minute journey into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, marking the company's 31st flight. The launch took place at 8:30 a.m. CT from its Texas base, reaching the Kármán line, which is internationally recognized as the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space.
The crew included notable figures such as Emmy-winning journalist Sánchez, CBS News anchor Gayle King, bioastronautics scientist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. This flight was particularly significant as it represented the first all-female crew in space since 1963, when Valentina Tereshkova completed a solo mission.
In preparation for the flight, Sánchez selected her crew for their storytelling abilities, aiming to inspire future generations. The crew’s spacesuits were designed by Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, creative directors of the luxury brand Oscar de la Renta, in collaboration with Creative Character Engineering.
During the flight, Perry fulfilled her promise to sing, performing “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. However, the audio quality made it difficult for listeners to hear her clearly. Perry emphasized that the experience was about collective energy and creating a platform for future women rather than promoting her own music.
The journey included a brief period of weightlessness before the capsule descended back to Earth, landing safely with the aid of parachutes. Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, has been offering space tourism flights since 2021, with substantial interest from celebrities and the public alike.