On Monday morning, an all-female crew successfully completed a suborbital flight aboard a rocket operated by Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos. The team included public figures such as singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez.
The launch, designated mission NS-31, took place at 9:30 a.m. EDT from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes and 21 seconds, reaching the Kármán line — the internationally recognized boundary of space, about 62 miles above Earth. Hundreds of thousands of people tuned in to watch the live broadcast of the journey.
This was the first all-female spaceflight since 1963, when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to orbit the Earth.
While in microgravity, the crew expressed wonder at the view of Earth from space. Upon landing, several members became emotional, with Perry and King kneeling to touch the ground. Both later shared reflections on the experience, emphasizing its emotional and symbolic significance. Perry indicated she may write a song inspired by the trip, and King spoke about the peacefulness of space and the importance of protecting the planet.
The mission has been described as a milestone due to its all-women crew and the global attention it attracted.
by: npr.org
