Blue Origin to Launch First-Ever All-Female Spaceflight on April 14

The suborbital mission, part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, marks the first time in more than 60 years that an all-female crew will fly to space. The last time a mission featured only female representation was in 1963, when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into orbit — and did so alone. NS-31 breaks that historic silence with a six-member, all-female crew representing diverse backgrounds in science, media, aviation, and entrepreneurship.

Meet the Trailblazing Crew of NS-31

Aisha Bowe
A shining example of women in STEM, Aisha Bowe is a former NASA rocket scientist with a rich academic and professional background. She earned her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s in space systems engineering from the University of Michigan. Bowe currently serves as the CEO of STEMBoard, an engineering solutions firm that partners with governmental and institutional clients.

In addition to leading STEMBoard, Bowe is the founder of LINGO, an education technology company dedicated to making STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) accessible and engaging for the next generation. Her accomplishments have been widely recognized: she is a recipient of the NASA Engineering Honor Award, the STEM for Her Woman of the Year honor, and the Black Enterprise Luminary Award. She is also actively involved with the National Society of Black Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Amanda Nguyễn

Amanda Nguyễn, a Harvard graduate, transitioned from academia to a pioneering career in bioastronautics as a research scientist. She has contributed to groundbreaking work at prestigious institutions, including the Harvard Center for Astrophysics, MIT, NASA, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences.

Recognized globally for her activism, Nguyễn was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and named TIME’s Woman of the Year for her tireless advocacy for survivors of sexual violence. Now, she is set to make history as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman astronaut on an upcoming space mission. Her inspiring journey is chronicled in her memoir, Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope, published by AUWA Books last month.

Gayle King

With an illustrious career spanning over four decades across radio, television, and print, Gayle King is an award-winning broadcast journalist and media icon. She currently co-hosts CBS This Morning and serves as editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine. King further connects with audiences through her SiriusXM radio show, Gayle King in the House.

Her exceptional work has earned her three Emmy Awards, along with the 2018 Gracie Award for Outstanding Radio Talk Show from American Women in Radio & Television. Recognized for her influence, Time magazine named her one of the "100 Most Influential People of 2019." A proud alumna, King holds a psychology degree from the University of Maryland, which she earned in 1976.

Kerianne Flynn

An accomplished producer, Kerianne Flynn has brought impactful stories to screen through projects like This Changes Everything (2018), examining women's representation in Hollywood, and LILLY (2024), chronicling equal-pay pioneer Lilly Ledbetter. Beyond filmmaking, she actively supports education and social causes through board service and nonprofit work with New York institutions.

Flynn's curiosity extends beyond Earth's atmosphere—she's a longtime space exploration advocate who secured her place on a Virgin Galactic flight. "The thought of seeing our planet from space takes my breath away," she shared in a 2021 interview. "I hope this experience paves the way for future generations to keep pushing boundaries in space."

Katy Perry

With an impressive 115 billion streams to her name, Katy Perry ranks among the best-selling music artists in history. She launched her career with her debut album in 2010 and has since released six albums under Capitol Records, selling over 19 million copies worldwide. Her most recent album dropped last year.

Beyond her musical success, Perry is a dedicated philanthropist. She established the Firework Foundation and holds the role of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Recognized for her talent, she has earned 13 Grammy nominations and was honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year in 2012.

Lauren Sánchez

Joining Katy Perry on this historic mission is Lauren Sánchez, a veteran journalist, entrepreneur, and certified helicopter pilot. Sánchez rose to prominence as a news anchor, earning an Emmy Award in 1999 with the KCOP-TV team in Los Angeles. Later, she transitioned into aviation and film production, founding Black Ops Aviation, the first female-owned and operated aerial film and production company.

In addition to her media and aviation accomplishments, Sánchez is the author of The Fly Who Flew to Space, a children’s book published in 2024 that quickly climbed the ranks to become a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. The book encourages young readers, particularly girls, to dream big and look to the stars. Sánchez is also engaged to Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, and has been a strong advocate for increasing female participation in space-related industries.


While the full roster of the NS-31 crew has yet to be publicly announced, the inclusion of accomplished women like Bowe and Sánchez signals a shift in the culture of space travel — one that values diversity, equity, and representation.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is designed for suborbital space tourism and research missions, offering passengers a brief experience of weightlessness and views of Earth from the edge of space. The flight is expected to last about 11 minutes from launch to landing, with the crew capsule returning to Earth via parachutes.

This historic mission is not just a testament to how far human spaceflight has come, but also a celebration of how inclusive it can be. NS-31 aims to inspire young women and girls around the world to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and space exploration.

By Azhar