Blue Origin Launches First All-Female Space Crew in Over 50 Years
(NewsNation) – In a landmark event for space exploration, a crew of six women embarked on a suborbital flight on Monday, achieving the first all-female journey into space in more than half a century. This mission, which utilized Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, reached an altitude of 65 miles (105 kilometers), allowing the crew to experience a few minutes of weightlessness.
The Crew
The high-profile group included:
- Katy Perry – recording artist
- Gayle King – journalist
- Lauren Sánchez – journalist and helicopter pilot
- Aisha Bowe – former NASA scientist
- Amanda Nguyen – civil rights activist
- Kerianne Flynn – movie producer
Flight Details
The brief journey lasted just over ten minutes, from launch to landing. Upon touchdown, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos greeted the crew and helped them exit the capsule, with Sánchez emerging first, followed by Perry, who famously kissed the ground upon disembarking.
Reflecting on the experience, Gayle King expressed her feelings of being “forever bonded” to her fellow astronauts, stating, “Now that I’ve done it, I really do feel that I can take on anything — anything.”
A Nod to History
This milestone comes over 60 years after the first all-female space flight conducted by Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963, which had largely been overshadowed in popular memory. The current flight, however, has garnered substantial attention, particularly for its crew’s gender, symbolizing a significant step forward in gender representation in space exploration.
Scientific Contributions
Amanda Nguyen, who participated in the flight, utilized the opportunity to conduct three scientific experiments focused on advances for future space travelers, including studies on how plants grow in space as well as assessments of moisture management in astronaut suits. “Women, in the beginning of NASA, were barred from becoming astronauts, and one of the reasons cited was menstruation, but they didn’t have the data to back that up,” Nguyen noted, emphasizing her experiment’s goal to gather data that could help refute outdated notions.
Media Attention and Criticism
The mission, while celebrated, has faced criticism from some quarters, including actress Olivia Munn, who questioned the extravagance of such flights in light of pressing issues on Earth. Blue Origin has not publicly disclosed prices, but it is known that seats require a deposit of $150,000.
Looking Forward
Blue Origin’s recent flight marks its 11th human spaceflight since it began offering commercial flights in 2021. The company has plans to continue its efforts in bringing civilians into space while promoting scientific research through these missions.
