By Ben Emos | Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | 2 min read
Earlier this week, six women—including pop icon Katy Perry, veteran journalist Gayle King, and pilot-philanthropist Lauren Sánchez—boarded Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and soared to the edge of space. The suborbital journey lasted just over 11 minutes, but its impact is likely to last far longer.
While the mission marked a personal dream come true for each crew member, it didn’t receive universal praise. Critics called the launch a vanity project for the ultra-wealthy and questioned whether a short ride, following only two days of training, qualifies as real space travel. But the backlash missed the bigger picture—especially for the countless young girls watching from home.
“Anyone criticizing doesn’t really understand what this means,” King told People after the flight. “The messages we’re getting from young women and girls—that’s what matters.”
Sánchez, also a licensed pilot and fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, pushed back against the negativity. “It only made me more determined,” she said. “This wasn’t just a moment—it was a message.”
And it’s a message that matters. For decades, women have been underrepresented in spaceflight and aerospace. When an all-male Blue Origin crew went up in 2021, the coverage was largely celebratory. Now that six women followed suit, the tone has shifted—and that double standard hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Lauren Sánchez took on this mission with the world watching and opinions swirling. Gayle King, who’s admitted to fearing flying, still chose a rocket over the safety of the ground. Katy Perry, who’s publicly dreamed of going to space, finally made good on that wish. These aren’t acts of ego—they’re acts of courage.
Yes, they are famous. Yes, they have privilege. But let’s not forget what this flight signaled to every girl who’s ever been told she doesn’t belong in STEM, or leadership, or space itself: You can go. You do belong.
Space travel isn’t just about scientific milestones. It’s about human possibility. This time, that possibility had lip gloss, fear, strength, and joy all strapped into the same capsule.
So instead of judging from the sidelines, maybe it’s time we ask ourselves why we cheer when men take these leaps—but scoff when women do the same.
These six women didn’t just ride a rocket. They challenged expectations, shattered stereotypes, and left the atmosphere with something bigger than stardust—they brought back hope.
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