Katy Perry has become the first pop star to travel to space, joining an all-female crew aboard a Blue Origin flight led by Jeff Bezos‘ aerospace company.
The singer, 40, launched from a site in the West Texas desert at 2:30 pm UK time aboard the New Shepard spacecraft.
She was joined by Lauren Sanchez, fiancée of Jeff Bezos; television journalist Gayle King; aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe; human rights advocate Amanda Nguyen; and filmmaker and philanthropist Kerrianne Flynn.
The mission marked the 31st flight of the New Shepard program and the 11th crewed flight. It was also the first all-female crewed spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963.
The rocket lifted off smoothly, with flames visible beneath the craft as it ascended. At around 28,000 feet, the booster and capsule separated, allowing the crew to experience approximately four minutes of weightlessness. During this time, they viewed the moon and Earth from space.
Upon reentry and landing, the crew were welcomed by Bezos and their families. Perry, visibly emotional, knelt and kissed the ground before reuniting with her daughter Daisy, mother and sister.
During the flight, Perry sang “What a Wonderful World” as the crew returned to their seats. King described the moment as “deeply moving,” noting Perry’s decision to perform a reflective song rather than one of her hits.
“This is not about me,” Perry later said. “It’s about us. It’s about taking up space and making space for future women. It’s about this wonderful world and appreciating it.”
Perry added that the journey to space was her second most meaningful experience, after motherhood. She said the mission was about modeling courage and fearlessness for her daughter.
Sanchez organized the flight in part by selecting each woman on board to reflect a spirit of inspiration and storytelling.
Oscar de la Renta’s creative directors, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, custom-designed the crew’s flight suits, which featured the Blue Origin logo.
Friends and family, including Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey, gathered at the launch site to support the mission. Before takeoff, Perry shared an online message: “I LOVE YOU.”
Previous Blue Origin passengers have included actor William Shatner and television host Michael Strahan.
The 11-minute journey continues Blue Origin’s push to make space travel more accessible and inclusive, with a focus on civilian experiences and historic milestones.
