A Galactic First Since the Sixties
In a moment set to go down in space history, pop icon Katy Perry is leading a powerhouse group of women into the cosmos aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The flight, scheduled for April 14, 2025, marks the first all-female crewed space mission since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo trip in 1963.
Joining Perry are journalist and pilot Lauren Sánchez (who also helped organise the mission), CBS anchor Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. The 11-minute suborbital journey will give the crew a few precious minutes of weightlessness before they parachute back down into the Texas desert.
Glammed Up for Lift-Off
This isn’t just a science mission; it’s a fashion statement too. Each crew member will be donning custom-designed flight suits by Monse founders Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. The suits, crafted from fire-resistant neoprene, were tailored specifically for women to combine form and function.
“They’re elegant, but they also bring a little spice to space,” Sánchez shared.
Photos ahead of launch showed the crew posing confidently in their sleek suits; Perry in particular was beaming, looking every bit the space trailblazer-meets-style icon.
More Than a Celebrity Stunt
While there’s plenty of glitz, this mission carries a deeper message. It’s designed to inspire young girls to look skyward and consider futures in science, engineering, and space exploration. Perry, who’s been vocal about her love for science and tech, said she’s “really excited about the engineering of it all” and hopes the flight sparks a new generation of Aussie kids to explore STEM careers.
The mission will be streamed live for those keen to catch a bit of space history in the making – and perhaps spot some fashion-forward astronauts floating above the Earth.
