On April.14, aerospace company Blue Origin launched a historic spaceflight to Earth’s atmosphere. This marked Blue Origin’s 31st mission with the New Shepard rocketship. While any space travel is already an impressive accomplishment, this flight was especially groundbreaking, as it was the first all-female spaceflight of the century. This milestone had not been achieved since 1963, further emphasizing how the mission is a step forward toward a new era of trailblazing space exploration.
The 1963 Space Mission
On June. 16, 1963, Soviet-born astronaut Valentina Tereshkova was launched into space aboard the Vostok 6 rocket. During the 70-hour mission, Tereshkova orbited Earth 48 times. Her incredible journey cemented her place in history as the first female space traveler, propelling her to international stardom. After returning to Earth, she received the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace and the Hero of the Soviet Union.
Until now, there had never been any more all-female spaceflights. Women have always been accompanied by men. Statistics further reflect the idea that space travel is a male-dominated field. For example, only 11% of all astronauts who have traveled to space are women.
The 2025 Blue Origin Flight
In addition to being the first all-female space crew of the century, Blue Origin’s crew is also unique because it features several celebrities. The passengers include singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, author, journalist Lauren Sánchez, feminist activist Amanda Nguyen and aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe.
Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Jeff Bezos, the owner of Blue Origin, organized the mission. When asked why she chose this specific group of women, she explained how each woman was a storyteller who would convey their experience in a unique way.
Blue Origin’s flight lasted approximately 11 minutes. The self-operating rocket did not require pilots, giving the passengers the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the journey. During the flight, the rocket crossed the Kármán line—the boundary separating Earth and space. This allowed the women to briefly experience a no-gravity atmosphere.
After landing on Earth, the passengers expressed the indescribable feelings they experienced. For example, Katy Perry explained how she felt “super connected to life” and “so connected to love.” Lauren Sánchez said that Earth looked “quiet, but really alive.”
The Impact of This Achievement
The flight is monumental because it conveys the impact that women can have on the advancement of space travel. The careers and backgrounds of each of these women symbolize unprecedented diversity in the space travel industry.
While in space, the women took the opportunity to truly embrace this accomplishment. Aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe held up a patch of the Bahamian flag, representing her milestone of being the first Bahamian individual in space. Katy Perry held a daisy to signify resilience, confidence, and strength.
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