Katy Perry and Gayle King flew to the edge of space on April 14, 2025, aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-31 mission. It was a brief, automated suborbital flight from West Texas—not an orbital journey—and the six-person crew was all female.
Who flew on Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission?
The crew consisted of Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez. Blue Origin said Sánchez brought the mission together. The company identified NS-31 as New Shepard’s 31st mission and its 11th human flight. Blue Origin’s mission announcement includes the crew and launch details.
What happened during the flight?
New Shepard launched from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. The scheduled launch window opened at 8:30 a.m. CDT (13:30 UTC) on April 14, 2025. The capsule and rocket carried the crew on an automated up-and-down suborbital flight.
Published accounts give approximate, not identical, flight figures. The Associated Press reported a flight of about 10 minutes reaching roughly 66 miles (107 kilometers). Before launch, CBS News described expected figures of about 11 minutes and 62 miles. Blue Origin’s reviewed mission material does not provide final telemetry, so neither set should be treated as a precise official measurement. The Associated Press’s post-flight report and CBS News’s pre-launch explainer give those estimates.
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- BEGINNER MODEL-ROCKET-BUILDING KIT: The Blue Origin New Shepard rocket model kit allows ages 10+ to display or launch a 1:66 scale model of the Blue Origin New Shepard launch vehicle. It includes the rocket parts, design decals, a recovery parachute, and instructions. It requires rocket engines, Starters, Recovery Wadding, a launch pad system, and 4 high-quality 1.5-volt AA alkaline batteries for launch use (sold separately).
- SOARS UP TO 400 FT.: Our replica Estes Blue Origin New Shepard model rocket continues the original’s legacy and features a 10.34-inch height, a large parachute, and a projected altitude of 400 ft. (122 m) on a C6-3 Estes rocket engine (sold separately). It is also compatible with a C5-3 rocket engine.
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Did Katy Perry and Gayle King go to space—and did the flight reach orbit?
They completed a spaceflight, but NS-31 did not reach orbit. New Shepard’s suborbital profile took the crew above the commonly used 50-mile (80-kilometer) U.S. boundary of space, then returned them to Earth; it was not a trip around Earth. Calling it a suborbital flight distinguishes it from an orbital mission without diminishing the fact that the crew crossed into space by that U.S. definition.
Why was it called an all-female first?
Blue Origin described NS-31 as “the first all-female flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963.” The Associated Press framed it as the first U.S. spaceflight with women in every seat. The distinction matters: Tereshkova flew alone, and the claim concerns a crewed flight with an all-women crew—not the first woman in space, nor a claim that no all-women crew has ever flown under every possible definition or national scope.
Rank #2
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- SAFETY FIRST, FUN ALWAYS: Our rockets and rocket launch accessories are designed to be used with the NAR (National Association of Rocketry) model-rocket safety code. Always ensure you have an appropriate launch site, stand back at least 15 ft., insert the safety key, issue a countdown, and then you can let your rocket fly!
- WE IGNITE IMAGINATIONS: Since 1958, Estes has created educational rocket kits designed for an unforgettable launch experience. As a family-owned company, we have grown to offer exciting STEM products that engage aspiring rocketeers and the future minds of aerospace.
What were the crew’s research and education plans?
Before launch, Blue Origin said aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe would carry student postcards and conduct three experiments, including studies in plant biology and human physiology. Those were announced plans; the cited mission materials do not report results from the experiments.
What did Perry and King say after the flight?
After landing, Perry told the Associated Press, “It’s not about me. It’s not about singing my songs,” adding, “It’s about a collective energy in there. It’s about us.” King, whom AP described as an anxious airplane flyer, said, “Oh my God, that was amazing.” At a later news conference, Perry said, “We weren’t just taking up space. We were making space for the future.”
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How much did the flight cost?
The price and payer were not disclosed. The Associated Press reported that Blue Origin declined to say how much the flight cost or who paid what, so a ticket price cannot be reliably assigned to NS-31.
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Best Value
- Country Of Origin: China
- Model Number: EST7239
- Item Package Dimension: 18.3" L x 6.6" W x 1.5" H
- Item Package Weight: 0.263 lb
Rank #4
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