Pop star Katy Perry, along with five other women including Jeff Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sánchez and CBS host Gayle King, successfully returned to Earth after an 11-minute suborbital space flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The flight, which lifted off from West Texas, crossed the Kármán Line—over 100 km above Earth—giving the crew brief moments of weightlessness. The all-female crew also included former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Upon landing, emotions ran high, with Perry kissing the ground and raising a daisy in honor of her daughter, and Sánchez tearfully reflecting on the quiet beauty of Earth from space. This mission marked a rare all-female flight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963.
The journey drew both celebration and criticism. Supporters hailed the event as a breakthrough for female representation in space and a signal of progress for space tourism. Critics, however, labeled it elitist and environmentally questionable. Some scientists and space experts questioned the mission’s value beyond spectacle, suggesting celebrity voyages may distract from science-based space exploration. Social media responses ranged from admiration to skepticism, with comments likening the crew to reality stars in space.
Despite the backlash, crew members defended the mission’s significance, emphasizing the inspiration it provided to young girls and highlighting the dedication of thousands of Blue Origin employees. Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, has not publicly disclosed full ticket prices, though seat reservations reportedly require a $150,000 deposit. The company promotes its reusable rocket technology as eco-conscious, claiming only water vapor is emitted during flight. Yet, scientists warn that even water vapor in the upper atmosphere can negatively impact the ozone layer and climate.
As space tourism grows, concerns about accessibility, environmental impact, and scientific relevance remain. Nevertheless, advocates argue private players like Blue Origin are vital to accelerating innovation and expanding humanity’s reach beyond Earth.
