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A groundbreaking moment in space exploration is set to take place this spring as six women embark on Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission, marking the first all-female crewed spaceflight since 1963. The diverse team includes journalist Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, philanthropist and pilot Lauren Sánchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The mission will take the crew 62 miles above Earth to the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. The journey, which will last approximately 15 minutes, will allow the crew to experience moments of weightlessness before their capsule returns to Earth via parachute.
Gayle King, 70, expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness about the experience. "I'm so afraid," she admitted on _CBS Mornings_, "but I'm also so excited about it. I don't know how to explain being terrified and excited at the same time. It’s like how I felt about to deliver a baby." She revealed that after being approached for the mission in November, she decided to embrace the adventure as a way to step into new experiences following her milestone birthday.
Before confirming her participation, King consulted with her children, Kirby and Will Bumpus, and her best friend Oprah Winfrey. "Once Kirby and Will and Oprah were fine with it, I was fine," she shared. "I thought Oprah would say no, no. She said, 'I think if you don't do it, when they all come back and you had the opportunity to do it, you will be kicking yourself.'"
Sánchez, who is engaged to Jeff Bezos, played a key role in assembling the crew and expressed deep pride in the mission. "I'm honored to be with such an incredible group of explorers," she said, adding that she hopes the journey will encourage more young women to dream big. "I want young women to see this and know they, too, can reach for the stars—literally."
Amanda Nguyen highlighted the mission's personal significance, stating, "As the first Vietnamese woman to go to space, I'm flying for Vietnamese girls to see themselves in the stars." Meanwhile, Flynn emphasized the importance of using the experience to inspire future generations, saying, "Hopefully, myself and other future astronauts can use this experience to inspire young innovators and entrepreneurs about the importance of taking care of our planet."
With Blue Origin aiming to make space travel more accessible, this historic flight is expected to leave a lasting impact. "This mission will challenge their perspectives of Earth, empower them to share their own stories, and create a lasting impact that will inspire generations to come," the company stated in a press release. The exact launch date has yet to be announced, but the mission is already making history before liftoff.
