On April 14, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. local time, the New Shepard rocket soared from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, carrying six remarkable women into the annals of history. The NS-31 mission, the first all-female spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo journey in 1963, crossed the Kármán line—62 miles above Earth—marking a bold step toward gender equality in space. Led by Lauren Sánchez and featuring luminaries like Katy Perry and Gayle King, this 11-minute suborbital voyage wasn’t just a joyride; it was a statement about inclusion, ambition, and the future of space tourism.
Celebrity participation in private spaceflights has become increasingly popular in recent years, reflecting a growing trend in space tourism. NS-31 aims to blend scientific endeavors with personal enjoyment.
The New Shepard: A Vehicle for Change
Blue Origin’s New Shepard, named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, is a fully autonomous, reusable suborbital rocket designed for tourism and research. Its pressurized capsule, seating six, offers the largest windows of any spacecraft, promising unparalleled views of Earth’s curvature. The rocket launches vertically, propels its crew past the Kármán line, and provides about four minutes of weightlessness before parachuting back to the Texas desert. The entire flight lasts roughly 11 minutes, a fleeting yet profound experience. For NS-31, this vehicle carried not just passengers but a powerful narrative: women from diverse fields uniting to inspire future generations.
The Crew: A Tapestry of Talent
The NS-31 crew, curated by Lauren Sánchez, reflects a blend of celebrity, expertise, and activism. Here’s a closer look at the six space travelers:
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Lauren Sánchez: The mission leader, Sánchez is a former Emmy-winning journalist, philanthropist, and fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. Her passion for aviation—she’s a licensed helicopter pilot—drove her to assemble this crew. Sánchez aimed to “challenge perspectives of Earth” and empower women, as noted in Blue Origin’s statement. Her role as a storyteller and advocate framed the mission’s inspirational tone.
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Katy Perry: The global pop icon, with hits like “Firework” and “E.T.,” brought star power. Perry, a philanthropist and mother, expressed a lifelong fascination with astrophysics, telling ITV News, “I feel like we are made of stardust.” She hoped her journey would inspire her daughter and others to “reach for the stars, literally and figuratively.”
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Gayle King: Co-host of CBS Mornings, King admitted to pre-flight jitters on her show but embraced the adventure. Known for her incisive interviews, she saw the mission as a chance to share a transformative story. Her participation highlighted journalism’s role in documenting history.
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Aisha Bowe: A former NASA rocket scientist and CEO of STEMBoard, Bowe brought technical gravitas. Her edtech company, LINGO, equips students with coding skills, and her journey from community college to space underscored STEM accessibility. She became the first Black woman on a Blue Origin flight.
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Amanda Nguyen: A civil rights activist and bioastronautics researcher, Nguyen made history as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman astronaut. Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy against sexual violence, she viewed the flight as a platform to amplify marginalized voices.
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Kerianne Flynn: A film producer with a knack for storytelling, Flynn rounded out the crew. Less publicly detailed than her peers, her inclusion emphasized the arts’ role in space exploration’s narrative, aligning with the mission’s goal to inspire through shared experiences.
These women—spanning music, media, science, activism, and film—formed a “rich tapestry of expertise,” as described by mestwebtasarim.com. Their diversity challenged stereotypes about who belongs in space, echoing Tereshkova’s pioneering spirit while updating it for a modern era.
The Stay: 11 Minutes That Changed Everything
The NS-31 mission was brief but packed with intensity. After liftoff at 8:30 a.m., the New Shepard’s booster propelled the capsule to an altitude of about 66 miles, crossing the Kármán line within three minutes. The booster then separated, landing back in Texas for reuse, while the capsule entered microgravity. For roughly four minutes, the crew experienced weightlessness, floating freely and gazing through oversized windows at Earth’s blue arc against the black void of space.
What did they do in those precious minutes? Perry, ever the performer, likely marveled at the “twinkling stars,” as she’d anticipated. King, the journalist, might have mentally cataloged details for a future broadcast. Bowe and Nguyen, with scientific backgrounds, possibly noted the physical sensations of zero gravity—research shows astronauts often feel disoriented yet euphoric. Sánchez, leading the group, likely guided their focus to the mission’s purpose: absorbing Earth’s fragility to inspire action back home. Flynn’s producer’s eye might have framed the scene like a cinematic moment.
The capsule’s autonomous systems required no piloting, freeing the crew to soak in the experience. After peak altitude, the capsule began its descent, deploying parachutes for a gentle landing at 8:41 a.m. Post-flight, the crew was whisked to a recovery area for medical checks and debriefing, their faces beaming in photos shared by Blue Origin. The physical stay was short, but the emotional and cultural impact—described by Sánchez as “perspective-shifting”—will linger.
The Cost: A Premium for History
Space tourism remains an elite pursuit, and NS-31 was no exception. Blue Origin doesn’t publicly disclose per-seat prices, but industry estimates peg New Shepard tickets at $200,000 to $300,000, with some reports citing a $150,000 deposit for reservations. Forbes noted a baseline of $200,000 per person, though high-profile missions like NS-31 may command premiums. For context, a 2021 auctioned seat on New Shepard fetched $28 million, though celebrity flights often involve sponsorships or waived fees.
Let’s break it down for each participant, assuming a $250,000 average ticket (mid-range estimate):
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Lauren Sánchez: As mission leader and Bezos’s fiancée, her seat was likely comped or heavily subsidized, reflecting her role in organizing the flight. Estimated cost: $0–$50,000.
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Katy Perry: With a net worth exceeding $400 million, Perry could easily afford the ticket. Blue Origin’s statement suggests her participation was partly promotional, so she might have paid a reduced rate, say $100,000–$200,000.
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Gayle King: As a media titan, King’s $250,000 ticket was likely covered by CBS or Blue Origin for publicity. Estimated cost: $0–$100,000.
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Aisha Bowe: Bowe’s STEM advocacy aligned with Blue Origin’s mission, possibly earning a sponsored seat. Estimated cost: $0–$150,000.
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Amanda Nguyen: Nguyen’s activist profile suggests sponsorship, perhaps via Blue Origin’s nonprofit arm. Estimated cost: $0–$100,000.
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Kerianne Flynn: Less is known, but as a producer, she might have paid full price or secured a deal. Estimated cost: $150,000–$250,000.
Total crew cost likely ranged from $500,000 to $1.5 million, with Blue Origin absorbing much of it to amplify the mission’s PR value. Training—two days at Launch Site One, covering safety and microgravity prep—was included, adding no extra charge. Unlike orbital missions (e.g., SpaceX’s $55 million seats), New Shepard’s suborbital brevity keeps costs lower, though still out of reach for most.
Impact and Criticism
NS-31’s symbolism is undeniable. It shattered barriers, with Bowe and Nguyen marking firsts for their communities and Perry inspiring young dreamers. Blue Origin framed it as a step toward democratizing space, but critics, like Olivia Munn, called it “gluttonous,” pointing to its exclusivity. The Conversation noted that the crew—celebrities and elites—doesn’t reflect “most women,” risking a hollow feminist narrative. Still, the mission’s visibility could spur STEM interest, as Bowe’s work with LINGO suggests.
A Spark for the Future
The NS-31 mission was more than a stunt; it was a beacon. For 11 minutes, six women glimpsed Earth from a vantage few know, returning with stories to shape generations. At $200,000–$300,000 per seat, the price tag underscores space’s exclusivity, but Blue Origin’s reusable tech hints at cheaper futures. As Sánchez said, this was about “empowering explorers.” Whether it truly reshapes access or remains a milestone for the privileged, NS-31 proves women belong among the stars.
