Watch: Blue Origin rocket carrying Katy Perry and all-female crew makes smooth landing after trip to edge of space

Blue Origin successfully completed its 11th human spaceflight on Monday, sending an all-female crew — including pop star Katy Perry , journalist Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez — past the edge of space and bringing them safely back to Earth in a sub-orbital flight that lasted around 10 minutes.

The rocket lifted off just after 8:30 am local time from West Texas, carrying six women aboard the fully automated New Shepard capsule . The crew reached an altitude of more than 100 kilometres, crossing the Kármán line — the internationally recognised boundary of space — and experienced a brief moment of weightlessness before returning for a smooth landing.

This marks Blue Origin’s first all-women crewed mission and the first all-female spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova’s historic solo journey in 1963. Joining Perry, King, and Sánchez were former Nasa rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

“I've always been interested in the stars. We’re all made of stardust,” said Perry ahead of the flight, adding that she prepared by immersing herself in astrophysics and the works of Carl Sagan. The singer, who is known for cosmic-themed songs like E.T. and Firework, said the experience was about more than reaching space. “You're brave, you're bold… No limitations,” she said, describing the message she hopes to send to young girls. “Being a mother just makes you level up with that type of power,” she added, referring to her daughter Daisy.

Blue Origin described the mission as a landmark moment for women in space exploration. The mission patch featured personalised symbols representing each woman’s legacy and contribution. During ascent, the New Shepard capsule soared at speeds over three times the speed of sound before returning to the Texas desert.