On April 14, 2025 Blue Origins New Shepard NS-31 launched, making history by being the first all female crew to launch into space. Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn each brought their own unique backgrounds and perspectives to this journey. Their experiences were special to them individually but also history-making for the world as they highlighted the creative roles women play in science, media, activism and the arts.
Katy Perry, a pop-star, TV personality, and mom, joined the journey with a creative approach. It was more than a thrill ride for Perry, it was a personal growth experience. She told the media after her journey how looking down from space opened her eyes to the world and added a new sense of wonder to her life. She described the moment as a weightless and surreal feeling. She embarked on the space journey to chase her dreams and show her daughter, Daisy, that anything is possible. Honoring her
daughter, Perry brought along a daisy flower into space with her. After the flight, Perry added space inspired themes to her “Lifetimes” tour, showcasing her accomplishments in space with zero-gravity effects and futuristic outfits.
From a journalist’s perspective, Gayle King embarked on the journey as well. CBS morning co-host brought her passion and curiosity to the experience. King saw the adventure as a bucket-list item. At 70 years old, this was a bold reminder that you should never limit yourself and your dreams just because of your age. King admitted to feeling both nervous and excited leading up to take-off. During the journey, King said she felt “limitless”, floating freely and joyfully. She shared at the end of her journey that it was a spiritual and more emotional experience rather than just physical. She wants to encourage others to say “yes” to new experiences- especially older adults.
The CEO of STEMBoard, Aisha Bowe, has spent many years advocating for STEM education, especially in younger generations, girls, and students of color. Participating in the NS-31 mission brought her goal and advocacy to life, teaching younger years that no dream is too big. Floating in zero gravity, Bowe explained it as a moment she had worked for her whole life because she knew what she was doing for not just herself and her personal journey but for all the people watching her. She wanted her story to be more about going to space and more about chasing your dreams and defying expectations no matter what.
Lauren Sanchez, brought a sense of leadership to the mission. She was a key part of the creativity that went into the journey. Sanchez is the founder of Black Ops Aviation- the first female-owned aerial film production company. Her role in the mission was strategic and personal, as her life-long dream has been to take off to space. But it wasn’t just about her, it was about all the women that came together to embark on this journey. Sanchez passionately brought together intelligent, creative, and strong women to experience this life-changing journey together. She aimed to create a moment in history that reflected diversity and possibility. During the flight, Sanchez said she felt a mix of calm and thrill, empowering her to encourage and advocate for others.
As a civil rights activist, Amanda Nguyen, embarked on this journey as a powerful advocate for human justice and power. Nguyen isn’t only a leader, she is also deeply committed to science. With a background in space policy, she’s been fascinated by the space journey and its personal impact on people. NS-31 brought her interest in space to life with her own personal journey. She described the experience as deeply emotional, and she felt a sense of connection to the journey. This moment further solidified her belief in inclusivity and unity. Her presence on this flight strengthened her belief that space belongs to everyone.
Kerianne Flynn, a film producer known for her deeply emotional documentaries, joined the NS-31 mission as a story-teller. Her goal with this flight was to capture the human side of space exploration. Flynn’s goal was to not only capture the beauty of space but the beauty of personal human emotions and experiences while in space. During the lead up to take off, she conducted interviews with each woman and documented footage. Being in space shifted Flynns perspective, not only as a filmmaker but also as a human. It deepend her perspective on unity and her commitment to making the NS-31 experience more accessible to younger generations, to then learn and grow from. Her understanding of the world around her deepend, and she wants to encourage and inspire others to chase their dreams. Her upcoming documentary aims to inspire young people, especially young girls, that space exploration is not limited and it’s for those with passion and courage.
The NS-31 mission was not only a landmark in history as being the first all-female flight, but it was the deep emotional impact that is played on women and society. Each woman aboard brought their own personal connection, story, dream, and determination which strengthened the flight to a deeper level. Together they formed a powerful, moving, and creative story that will live in history forever.
