Date: April 14, 2025 | Location: Van Horn, Texas
Blue Origin, the American aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has completed a landmark suborbital mission with an all-female crew aboard its New Shepard rocket. This historic flight marks the first women-only space mission since Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space in 1963.
A Groundbreaking Flight for Gender Representation in Space
The mission lifted off at 9:30 a.m. ET from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. Among the crew were six prominent women:
- Katy Perry, international pop star
- Gayle King, co-host of “CBS Mornings”
- Lauren Sánchez, former journalist and fiancée of Jeff Bezos
- Aisha Bowe, aerospace engineer and former NASA rocket scientist
- Amanda Nguyen, bioastronautics researcher and civil rights activist
- Kerianne Flynn, acclaimed movie producer
This 10-minute suborbital flight took the capsule above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, located 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth.
Highlights from the Launch Day
- Emotional Liftoff: With Jeff Bezos in attendance and Oprah Winfrey cheering on her friend Gayle King, the atmosphere was electric. The New Shepard rocket ignited precisely at schedule, soaring to Mach 3 speed — three times the speed of sound — before the capsule detached from the booster.
- Weightless Wonder: Inside the capsule, the crew experienced several minutes of weightlessness, gazing out at the curve of Earth and even spotting the moon. Their voices, filled with awe and excitement, were broadcast live from space.
- Successful Landing: After reaching the edge of space, the capsule gently parachuted back to the Texas desert, while the rocket booster autonomously landed 2 miles away from the launch pad. The entire mission lasted approximately 11 minutes.
A Message from Jeff Bezos
Before launch, Bezos shared heartfelt words with the crew:
“I’m super excited for you. I don’t want to get off — I want to go with you… I love you all. See you soon. Godspeed.”
He later posted a message on social media saying, “I love this crew!”
Blue Origin’s Expanding Role in Space Exploration
Founded in 2000, Blue Origin Enterprises, L.P. is headquartered in Kent, Washington. The company has evolved from a low-profile venture into a leading force in space innovation, with several major achievements:
- New Shepard: A suborbital rocket designed for space tourism, successfully performing multiple human flights since its first crewed mission in July 2021 — which included Bezos himself.
- New Glenn: A heavy-lift orbital rocket that had its maiden flight in January 2025.
- BE-4 Engines: Used by both Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
- Blue Moon Lander: In development for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions.
- Orbital Reef Space Station: A collaborative project to build a commercial space station.
With leadership now under CEO Dave Limp, who succeeded Bob Smith in 2023, the company is accelerating progress across multiple verticals, including national defense, orbital transportation, and lunar exploration.
A New Era of Spaceflight
Today’s mission not only advanced Blue Origin’s technological legacy but also spotlighted the growing presence of women in aerospace. As space tourism and exploration evolve, this milestone paves the way for more inclusive representation in humanity’s journey beyond Earth.
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