Blue Origin’s Female Crew
Blue Origin is set to make history once again, this time with a star-studded mission that’s breaking barriers beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The spaceflight company, founded by Jeff Bezos, announced that its next suborbital flight—NS-31—will carry the first ever all-female crew aboard the New Shepard rocket. The mission is scheduled to launch later this spring and will be New Shepard’s third launch of 2025, and its eleventh crewed flight overall.
Among the six passengers are notable names from across entertainment, journalism, aerospace, and activism: Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez, Amanda Nguyen, Kerianne Flynn, and Aisha Bowe.
A New Chapter in Spaceflight
The NS-31 mission not only marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin but also for the broader spaceflight industry, which has long been working toward greater diversity and inclusion. While women have been to space before, this will be the first time an all-female crew has flown together on a commercial suborbital spaceflight.
Lauren Sánchez, a seasoned aviation pilot and the vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, is no stranger to flight, but this marks her first venture beyond the stratosphere. Joining her is pop icon Katy Perry, whose presence is sure to bring extra attention to the mission—and possibly some interstellar style.
Broadcast legend Gayle King, co-host of CBS Mornings, will bring her signature charisma and insight to the experience. Meanwhile, Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, adds a powerful voice for justice and representation.
Also onboard is Aisha Bowe, a former NASA aerospace engineer and founder of STEMBoard, and Kerianne Flynn, a key figure in Blue Origin’s space advocacy efforts.
A Journey to Inspire
The six women will experience a brief but unforgettable journey above the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space at roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth’s surface. The suborbital flight will last approximately 11 minutes, during which the crew will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and unparalleled views of Earth.
In a joint statement, the crew said they hope the mission will inspire future generations of women and girls to pursue careers in STEM and believe in their potential to reach for the stars—literally.
Blue Origin has not yet announced the official launch date but confirmed that preparations are well underway at the company’s launch site in West Texas.
Looking Ahead
As commercial spaceflight continues to evolve, NS-31 stands out not only for its technical feat but for its cultural significance. By sending six accomplished women from diverse backgrounds into space together, Blue Origin is pushing the frontier not just of science and exploration, but of representation.
Whether you’re a space enthusiast or a Katy Perry fan, this launch is sure to be one to watch.
