In a groundbreaking moment for both pop culture and the horizons of space exploration, singer Katy Perry was launched into space on Monday as part of the six-woman crew aboard Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard NS-31 mission. The expedition, which aimed to celebrate women’s achievements in science and technology, lifted off from launch facilities in West Texas at 2.30pm BST (8.30am local time), and was described as both exhilarating and emotional for each of the remarkable women on board.As the rocket pulled away from the gantry, Perry could be heard exclaiming “oh my god,” a spontaneous reaction that captured the thrill of the moment. The craft ascended with a powerful roar as flames erupted from its underside, propelling the crew into the skies with the mission control team reassuringly announcing that everything “looks good.”
Perry’s excitement resonated through the cabin as they broke the sound barrier, hitting supersonic speeds during their exhilarating ascent.With hearts racing, the astronauts approached the Karman line, the invisible boundary defining space at 62 miles (100 km) above Earth. At around 28,000 ft, the rocket and its capsule separated, providing Perry and her fellow crew members a breathtaking view of the moon. For the first time, they experienced zero gravity, unstrapping themselves from their seats to float freely in the cabin, a moment Perry labelled as “incredible.”The entire journey lasted less than 20 minutes, culminating in a safe return to Earth.
As the crew re-entered the atmosphere, mission control declared “booster touchdown,” and both the booster and the crew capsule descended to their designated landing areas—Perry and her companions celebrated their successful flight, cheering as they floated down with the aid of parachutes.Perry’s long-cherished dream of venturing into space became a reality on this historic flight, which was part of an initiative led by journalist Lauren Sanchez. Earlier, Perry expressed her enthusiasm on Instagram, stating: “I’ve dreamt of going to space for 15 years and tomorrow that dream becomes a reality.”
She welcomed the opportunity to join “five other incredible and inspiring women” in what is noted as the first all-female flight team in space history.The all-star crew was composed of prominent figures including CBS Mornings presenter Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, activist and astronaut Amanda Nguyen, and producer Kerianne Flynn. Each of these women, like Perry, has made waves in their respective fields and now share the common experience of exploring the cosmos.Amidst her excitement, Perry revealed her call sign for the mission: Feather. In her preparations, she had taken to social media to explain how she planned to sing in space, showcasing both her artistic spirit and her desire to make this adventure memorable.
“I do believe this (is happening) because believing your dreams and saying that is actually how you make your dreams come true,” she remarked, emphasising the importance of having faith in one’s aspirations.This remarkable expedition underscores not just the achievements of these women, but also a step toward a future where space travel could become a common pursuit, transcending gender boundaries and inspiring generations to come.