Josh Weiner
In a bold blend of empowerment and spectacle, Lauren Sanchez is set to soar beyond Earth’s edge on Monday aboard a Blue Origin rocket, joined by a trailblazing all-female crew. The 11-minute suborbital journey, orchestrated by Jeff Bezos’s space company, may look like a joyride—but it’s positioning itself as a powerful statement in a male-dominated industry.
The crew includes some big names: pop icon Katy Perry, CBS journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, producer Kerianne Flynn, and engineer-turned-entrepreneur Aisha Bowe. Sánchez—journalist, philanthropist, and Bezos’s fiancée—will serve as mission leader.
Launching from Blue Origin’s West Texas site, the New Shepard rocket will carry the six women past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space at 62 miles altitude. Though not the first woman-led mission—Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova claimed that title in 1963—this launch is being hailed as the first of its kind in the commercial space era.
But make no mistake—this mission isn’t shy about making a visual impact. Styled for a photoshoot with Elle, the crew embraced their moment in sleek black outfits, full glam, and bold attitude. “We’re a crew!” they declared. “Who wouldn’t get glam before a rocket launch?” Sánchez quipped. Perry, with her signature flair, added: “We’re putting the ‘ass’ in astronaut.”
Beyond the style statements, questions linger about the substance. Is this a PR moment or a genuine milestone? “I’m scared and excited,” admitted King. “It’s like childbirth—you know it’s going to hurt, but you also know it’s life-changing.”
The mission is Blue Origin’s latest bid to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which has launched nearly 500 missions, including to the International Space Station. By contrast, New Shepard has completed just over 30 successful flights. While SpaceX dominates the orbital frontier, Bezos’s company is still carving out its identity in space tourism and reusable rocket tech.
Blue Origin’s recent advancements include its New Glenn rocket, a heavy-lift launcher designed to transport large payloads to orbit. The company claims it will reduce cost and waste by operating like a commercial airliner—with cleaner fuel.
Yet, despite progress, Bezos’s space dream remains in SpaceX’s shadow. Musk’s Starship aims for Mars. His Falcon 9 rockets return to Earth autonomously. And his Dragon capsules regularly ferry astronauts into orbit. Meanwhile, Blue Origin hasn’t gone beyond suborbital missions.
Still, Monday’s flight may signal a strategic pivot. While Musk’s rockets carry cargo and astronauts, Bezos is betting on experiences, influence, and symbolic power. And this flight, with its high-profile crew and unapologetically glamorous message, might just capture the world’s attention in a way no tech spec ever could.
In the background, the rivalry simmers. Blue Origin and SpaceX have clashed over government contracts and antitrust concerns, with both billionaires battling for dominance in what could become the most influential frontier of the 21st century.
For now, though, all eyes are on West Texas—and the six women rewriting the narrative of who gets to go to space, and how.
