TOP April News: What Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, and Gayle King
On April 14, the New Shepard rocket took six women to space in the unprecedented all-female Blue Origin space flight. All the passengers came back deeply awestruck by the experience and shared their insights with rapture and fascination. But before we hear what they have said, let’s learn more about the flight that’s been making headlines in every major news magazine about space, starting with New Shepard, the craft built by Blue Origin that took them to their dream.
Meet New Shepard: The Reusable Rocket Shaping Civilian Space Travel
New Shepard isn’t just a rocket. It’s a symbol of the next step in the exploration. Designed for suborbital flights, this fully reusable launch vehicle has carried both scientific payloads and civilian passengers past the Kármán line, the acknowledged edge of space.
What makes New Shepard unique is its vertical takeoff and landing system, allowing for safe reuse. This is a crucial step in making this type of travel more sustainable and, eventually, more accessible. Named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, this rocket represents a blend of history and innovation that’s fuelling big dreams, one launch at a time. This month, it made the dream a reality for six women, including pop icon Katy Perry.
Katy Perry’s Space Trip Revelations
Katy Perry’s journey wasn’t just a headline-grabbing adventure. It was a deeply personal experience for a famous singer. Known for her bright performances and bold artistic vision, Perry took her curiosity quite literally to new heights.
After the flight, she was clearly overwhelmed, describing the deep love she felt while in space and a renewed sense of connection to Earth. She also shared the touching reason behind bringing a daisy on board — a symbolic gesture to honour her daughter, who’s named after the flower. What Katy Perry said about this trip echoed the classic “overview effect,” which is a shift in perspective many astronauts experience when seeing Earth from above. For her millions of fans, Katy Perry’s space trip turned a sci-fi dream into something real, relatable, and grounded in wonder.
Who went with Katy Perry? Did they have similar experiences and deep revelations?
Another five women who were on that spaceflight are former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, scientist and sexual violence survivors’ advocate Amanda Nguyen, pilot, entrepreneur, and former journalist Lauren Sánchez. All from different walks of life, let’s see what they had on their mind after returning.
Other Inspiring Experiences
Lauren Sanchez’s adventure on the same flight was deeply eye-opening and led her to reflect on the urgent need to protect our “profound” planet — a one-of-a-kind home we won’t get a second chance with. For such an adventurous and multi-talented woman, the journey became more than a thrill; it was a powerful and humbling reminder of our shared responsibility to care for Earth.
Another empowering outcome came from Gayle King’s space experience. She felt incredibly capable and left the ship feeling she could do anything now, when she managed to travel into space, though being uncertain and nervous at the preparation stage. She came back proud and inspired.
The Future Belongs to Everyone
For decades, this travel seemed like the exclusive playground of elite astronauts or ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs. But the April mission by Blue Origin showed the world something different. When people like Katy Perry and Gayle King step aboard a ship, it sends a powerful message: the universe is opening up not just for scientists or billionaires, but for dreamers, creators, storytellers, and advocates.
So, why did Katy Perry and Gayle King get to go to space? Not because they could pilot the ship or fund the mission, but because they bring back something arguably just as valuable: a renewed sense of wonder, a broadened perspective, and a voice that inspires millions. Their journey wasn’t about status; it was about storytelling, connection, and shifting the public narrative about who space is for.
This shift matters. When we see artists, journalists, and women of all backgrounds floating among the stars, this idea becomes more inclusive and more human. The dream of exploring the cosmos becomes less abstract and more emotionally accessible.
These flights also remind us of what’s at stake down here. Many of the passengers return not only inspired but also more protective of Earth. Their forever-changed perception allows them to see the planet as it is — fragile, breathtaking, and deeply worth saving.
As private companies continue to build the infrastructure of commercial travel, it’s clear that future missions will be about more than just technical milestones. They’ll be about voices, visions, and values. And while not everyone will board a rocket tomorrow, this democratisation of space, symbolised by the NS-31 crew, is already changing the game.
Author: Emma Thorpe
