From Launch to Landing: What Really Happened During the Historic All-Female Space Mission

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From Launch to Landing: What Really Happened During the Historic All-Female Space Mission

By Chu E. - April 22, 2025

When Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission launched on April 14, 2025, it made history as the first all-female spaceflight in over six decades. Lauren Sánchez, Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn captivated the world during their 11-minute journey to the Kármán line. Their flight combined personal victories, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural significance that resonated globally. Let’s look at the 23 most unforgettable moments from this groundbreaking mission.

The Thunderous Liftoff

From Launch to Landing: What Really Happened During the Historic All-Female Space Mission — Source: planetary.org

The New Shepard rocket roared to life at exactly 9:30 a.m. EDT. Its RS-88 engine ignited with a boom that shook the desert ground. The crew screamed with awe as 3G forces pinned them to their seats. Social media quickly filled with clips of their joyous shouts. People around the world watched in real-time as these six women began their ascent to 62 miles above Earth, marking the start of a truly historic journey.

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Lauren Sánchez’s Dream Realized

Lauren Sánchez clutched a photo of her mother throughout the flight. She used it as a personal talisman of strength while fulfilling her vision of empowering women in space. Tears streamed down her face after landing as she said, “I’m so proud of this crew.” Her voice cracked with emotion. She had handpicked this team as part of her initiative backed by Blue Origin’s $100 million investment to inspire female explorers.

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Katy Perry’s Floating Daisy

Katy Perry brought a single white daisy from her California garden. The delicate flower floated gracefully in the capsule’s microgravity while cameras captured the moment. “This is for you,” she whispered, showing the flower to onboard cameras as a dedication to her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom. The image went viral almost instantly. People shared it widely across X with the hashtag #DaisyInSpace, creating an iconic symbol of the mission.

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Gayle King Overcomes Her Fear

Gayle King had avoided planes for years due to her intense fear of flying. She gripped her seat tightly during the 10-second booster separation. After landing safely, she knelt on the dusty Texas ground and pressed her palms to the earth. “I feel I can take on anything,” she said with newfound courage in her voice. CBS Mornings broadcast her transformation live. Viewers flooded social media with messages of admiration for her bravery.

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An Impromptu Space Concert

Katy Perry’s voice filled the weightless cabin with “What a Wonderful World.” Her tone was soft yet powerful against the background hum of the capsule. The other crew members joined briefly in song. Their faces glowed with shared joy in this spontaneous moment of unity. Perry later told Variety she chose this song to celebrate their collective energy, not as self-promotion. The brief concert became one of the flight’s most touching moments.

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Amanda Nguyen’s Powerful Symbol

Amanda Nguyen brought a faded hospital wristband from her 2014 assault. The small item floated beside her in zero gravity, symbolizing her journey from trauma to triumph. She stared at it silently as tears welled in her eyes. She later explained she was honoring her past self who “never imagined reaching the stars.” Blue Origin’s livestream captured this powerful moment. Survivors worldwide found inspiration, making #RiseAbove trend on social media platforms.

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Aisha Bowe Makes History

Aisha Bowe, a former NASA engineer, became the first person of Bahamian heritage to cross the Kármán line. She carried a small star-shaped pendant engraved with her father’s initials. “Dad, we made it,” she whispered while gazing at Earth’s curved horizon. Schools throughout the Bahamas paused their lessons so students could watch the launch live. Her achievement represented not just a personal milestone but a national point of pride for her ancestral homeland.

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Kerianne Flynn’s Emotional Exit

Kerianne Flynn stepped out of the capsule last. Her face beamed with joy as she pointed skyward and shouted, “I went to space!” The Blue Origin engineer carried a drawing by her son that depicted her as an astronaut. She had shown this same drawing to his skeptical classmates years earlier. Blue Origin shared this touching moment on X. Thousands liked the post, calling Flynn a perfect role model for perseverance and determination.

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Star-Studded Support Crew

Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian stood at the landing site. They clapped and cheered as the capsule touched down at 9:41 a.m. EDT. Winfrey wiped tears while hugging King tightly. “You did it, my brave friend,” she said emotionally. Jenner posted a selfie with the crew on Instagram with the simple caption “History!” Their presence significantly boosted the event’s visibility. The hashtag #NS31 quickly trended globally on various social media platforms.

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Fashion Meets Function

The crew wore vibrant blue, flame-resistant neoprene spacesuits designed by Monse. Each suit featured ergonomic cuts specifically tailored for women’s bodies, unlike NASA’s traditional unisex designs. The suits displayed a mission logo patch—a stylized Earth with six stars representing each crew member. Pre-launch photos showcased the sleek designs. Social media users praised the approach for prioritizing both practical function and stylish aesthetics, proving space gear can be both safe and visually appealing.

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Unfiltered Joy Captured Live

As the rocket passed 50 miles up, one crew member exclaimed, “Oh my goddess!” The high-pitched burst of pure exhilaration came from Flynn. Her raw, unscripted reaction could be heard clearly on the live feed. The phrase quickly became a meme on X. Users remixed it into celebratory GIFs that spread across platforms. This genuine display of emotion highlighted the human aspect of space exploration. Millions watching online connected with this unfiltered moment of pure joy.

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Weightless Sisterhood Forms

During four precious minutes of weightlessness, the crew shared a profound silent moment. They locked eyes as Earth’s soft glow illuminated their faces through the windows. Sánchez later described this as “a sisterhood forged in space” that transcended their diverse backgrounds. Cameras captured their gentle high-fives and genuine smiles. News programs worldwide replayed this scene in their coverage. The wordless connection spoke volumes about the bond they formed during their journey.

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Scientific Experiments in Zero-G

Amanda Nguyen conducted two groundbreaking experiments during the flight. She studied mold growth in microgravity and tested menstrual blood clotting in zero-G conditions. Her gloved hands remained steady despite floating equipment as she handled small vials. She collaborated with the Vietnamese National Space Center on this research. A post-flight NASA report detailed her work. Her findings aim to improve health outcomes for future female astronauts on longer missions.

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Monitoring Women’s Bodies in Space

Aisha Bowe wore a coin-sized BioButton sensor on her chest throughout the flight. The device collected valuable heart rate and stress data for a NASA-funded study. It blinked faintly while recording her calm breathing during weightlessness. This contrasted with her racing pulse during liftoff. Researchers received her data after landing. Her participation contributed to a growing database on gender-specific effects of spaceflight, addressing a long-standing gap in space medicine research.

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Perry’s Promotional Moment

Katy Perry unfurled a small card listing her Lifetimes tour dates. She let it float in the capsule while grinning at the camera. “Catch me on tour—or in orbit!” she quipped playfully. Her crew members laughed at the unexpected promotion. She shared this moment on Instagram Live afterward. Reactions on X were mixed. Some praised her lighthearted humor while others criticized it as inappropriate commercial exploitation of a historic scientific milestone.

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The Overview Effect Strikes

Gayle King experienced the famous “overview effect” while peering at Earth’s thin blue atmosphere. She described “deep peace” washing over her as she viewed our planet from space. She later told CBS Mornings viewers that seeing Earth’s fragility changed her perspective on human divisions. Capsule footage paired with her soft, awestruck voice moved many viewers. Social media posts called her reflection a “wake-up call for unity” that transcended politics and borders.

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Oprah’s Emotional Investment

Oprah Winfrey wore a bright yellow scarf to match the crew’s family supporters. She stood near the landing pad with clasped hands as the capsule descended by parachute. She called King’s flight “cathartic” during a heartfelt People magazine interview. She noted it represented a personal milestone in their 30-year friendship. Viral photos captured her emotional presence. Her genuine reaction underscored the deeper human connections formed through this scientific achievement.

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Khloé Kardashian’s Unexpected Inspiration

Khloé Kardashian watched the launch from a VIP tent. She described her pounding heart as the rocket cleared the tower. She shared this unexpected emotional response on X immediately. “This makes you believe anything is possible,” she posted, urging followers to pursue ambitious dreams. Thousands liked her candid message. Her raw enthusiasm paired with video of her excited cheering added a relatable celebrity perspective to the scientific event.

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Lauren Sánchez Glimpses the Future

Lauren Sánchez spotted the moon’s pale glow against the black void during descent. The sight left her momentarily speechless as she gazed through the capsule window. She later told reporters it felt like “a quiet promise of what’s next” for her aerospace ambitions with Blue Origin. Her poetic description during the post-flight press conference inspired fans. Artists shared their interpretations of this moment across social media, connecting the mission to humanity’s broader space aspirations.

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Bezos Welcomes the Crew Home

Jeff Bezos personally unlatched the capsule door after landing. He wore a Blue Origin cap as he greeted Sánchez with a warm hug when she emerged first. He shook hands with each crew member. “You’ve made history,” he told them during the moment aired live on YouTube. His presence highlighted the company’s commitment to the mission. Public debates about the $200,000-per-seat cost continued online, but couldn’t diminish the historic significance of what these women had accomplished.

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Perry’s Message of Resilience

Katy Perry explained the deeper meaning behind her daisy to AP reporters after landing. She noted that daisies, though “common,” grow through cracks in sidewalks. This mirrors women’s strength in male-dominated fields like aerospace. She wore a subtle daisy-shaped pin on her suit that fans spotted in close-up photos. Her message spread on X with #WomenInSpace. Her symbol inspired STEM organizations to launch daisy-themed outreach campaigns for young girls interested in science.

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Public Controversy Erupts

The flight drew criticism from some quarters. Actress Olivia Munn tweeted, “$200K a seat for a feminist stunt?” She questioned the mission’s cost and intentions. Commentators debated whether the all-female framing was genuinely empowering or merely tokenistic. The Guardian published articles calling it a “billionaire PR move.” Despite this controversy, positive coverage of the crew’s achievements dominated. The hashtag #NS31Women garnered 1.2 million mentions, most celebrating the historic nature of the flight.

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Inspiring the Next Generation

During the post-flight press conference, Katy Perry spoke directly to young viewers. “To every girl watching, you can be a scientist, an astronaut, anything,” she said firmly. The crew later participated in virtual school visits. They shared mission footage to encourage STEM careers among students. Their outreach reached over 10,000 children nationwide. Space camps reported a surge in applications from girls following these efforts. Their impact extended far beyond the brief flight itself.

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How This Changes Space Tourism

The NS-31 mission has already affected how space companies plan future flights. Virgin Galactic announced a similar all-female mission for late 2025. SpaceX added more seats for women on their upcoming lunar orbit trip. Blue Origin reported a 300% increase in applications from women since the flight landed. The space tourism industry now sees women as a major customer base they previously ignored. Travel agencies have started creating special packages aimed at female groups interested in space adventures. This shift opens up new market opportunities worth billions while making space more accessible to everyone.

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Media Coverage That Made History

News outlets gave the NS-31 mission more airtime than any private spaceflight before it. Over 2 billion people watched some part of the mission live. The crew appeared on 17 magazine covers in the month after landing. Major networks produced five documentaries about the flight and its preparation. Netflix has started filming a limited series about the women’s personal journeys to space. This extensive coverage broke the typical pattern of quick news cycles. People kept talking about the mission weeks after it ended, unlike previous flights that faded from public attention within days.

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What They Left Behind

Each crew member donated personal items to the Smithsonian after the flight. These artifacts will join the National Air and Space Museum’s collection next month. The capsule itself will tour science centers across the country. Schools in 30 states have added the NS-31 story to their curriculum. Blue Origin created a scholarship fund using proceeds from the mission memorabilia auction. The $3 million raised will help send 100 young women to space camp each year. These concrete actions ensure the flight’s impact lasts well beyond its brief eleven minutes in space.

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