Katy Perry’s space song added a surreal and emotional note to the latest Blue Origin flight, as she joined five other women for a history-making space mission that pushed both scientific boundaries and cultural moments to new heights. The 11-minute journey aboard the New Shepard rocket reached 100 kilometers above Earth—crossing the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
The all-female flight, known as mission NS-31, is the first of its kind since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963. This time, however, the passengers weren’t astronauts but civilians—representing music, media, science, activism, and film. Katy Perry, known for turning global stages into electric playgrounds, transformed the cabin of a space capsule into her most unexpected venue yet, singing Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” as Earth drifted below.
Joining Perry was Lauren Sánchez, journalist and fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, along with TV personality Gayle King, former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Together, they made history not just by being part of the first all-women crew aboard a space tourism mission, but by sharing a deeply human experience among the stars.
A Song, a Rocket, and a Statement
The performance of “What A Wonderful World” resonated far beyond the capsule. Sung from the edge of space, the classic ballad took on new weight. With lyrics that speak to beauty, wonder, and hope, the moment symbolized the blending of art and science, of femininity and force. In an era when space travel is becoming more commercial and more accessible, Katy Perry’s space song may come to represent a turning point in how we view space not just as a frontier of science, but also as a canvas for culture.
The New Shepard rocket launched from Blue Origin’s facility in Texas, and it wasn’t just the six passengers who attracted attention. Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian were among the celebrities gathered on the ground to witness the liftoff. As Perry’s voice filled the cabin and the capsule climbed to 62 miles above Earth, eyes were glued to live feeds and social media exploded with reactions ranging from admiration to skepticism.
While some viewers called the mission “inspiring” and “empowering,” others criticized it as a publicity stunt. Still, it’s difficult to dismiss the mission’s symbolism. A rocket powered by science carried six women of vastly different backgrounds—each influential in their own right—into space. Their message was one of possibility, diversity, and progress. And for many watching, that message hit home.
Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission is the latest installment in the company’s ongoing effort to make space tourism viable for civilians. Previous missions have included billionaire founders, scientists, and adventurers. Jesús Calleja, a Spanish TV personality, became the third Spaniard in space just weeks earlier, also aboard a New Shepard flight. Katy Perry’s participation brought a new layer to the narrative—a pop culture icon who turned a space capsule into an emotional performance space.
The flight lasted just over 11 minutes but packed in more than a typical orbital mission might in a day. It was a mix of spectacle and substance, emotion and elevation. And while critics debated the significance of the event, millions of viewers were left with the image of a woman singing about the wonders of the world while floating weightlessly above it.
With this mission, Blue Origin has added a cultural milestone to its growing list of achievements. Whether you view it as entertainment, empowerment, or experimental tourism, it’s clear that this journey touched on something universal. Katy Perry’s space song may be over, but its echoes continue to inspire conversations about who space is for—and what we choose to bring with us when we go.
