Blue Origin achieved a historic milestone by launching its New Shepard rocket with an all-female crew into space. The mission carried six women just beyond the edge of space, marking significant achievements for both space tourism and the company itself. Journalist Lauren Sánchez was among the crew, flying alongside her fiancé Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of Blue Origin.
The distinguished crew included singer Katy Perry; Aisha Bowe, CEO of STEMBoard and former NASA engineer; film producer Kerianne Flynn; CBS journalist Gayle King; and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Amanda Nguyen. Their safe return to Earth captured global media attention and delivered a wave of positive publicity for Blue Origin.
The New Shepard rocket crossed the Kármán line—widely recognized as the boundary of space—by reaching an altitude of 107 kilometers. The crew experienced approximately 10 minutes of weightlessness, floating freely inside the capsule before completing the suborbital journey in under 10 minutes.
The booster, powered by a BE-3PM engine fueled by liquid hydrogen, executed a precise landing back on the launchpad. Meanwhile, the crew capsule descended gently to the desert floor using parachutes. Each astronaut selected a personal item to serve as their zero-gravity indicator. Amanda Nguyen chose her hospital bracelet as a symbol of resilience after surviving sexual assault, while Katy Perry brought a daisy.
This flight follows Blue Origin’s previous historic missions, including transporting 82-year-old aviation pioneer Wally Funk and 90-year-old actor William Shatner. The success of this all-female crew not only enhances Blue Origin’s track record in commercial spaceflight but also marks a powerful and symbolic step forward for women in space exploration.
