Pop icon Katy Perry soared 62 miles above Earth on April 14, 2025, aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, as part of a historic all-female space mission. Lasting just 11 minutes, the suborbital flight marked the first time since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo trip in 1963 that an all-female crew had gone to space.
Perry was joined by journalist Gayle King, Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, scientist and activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Their flight crossed the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space—and returned safely to West Texas, where Bezos himself opened the capsule hatch to greet them.
Emotions, Daisies, and “What a Wonderful World”
Upon touchdown, Perry stepped out of the capsule and kissed the ground—a gesture that became one of the most talked-about moments of the mission. She held a daisy in her hand, a tribute to her 4-year-old daughter Daisy, calling the flower a symbol of resilience and strength.
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Reflecting on her brief but emotional journey, Perry said, “I feel super connected to love. This experience has shown me how loved you are until the day you launch.” Inside the capsule, she sang Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” sharing the moment with her fellow passengers. “It’s not about me,” she later emphasized, “It’s about this beautiful Earth and making space for future women.”
Gayle King described space as “oddly quiet,” while Aisha Bowe said she felt “renewed” and “never the same.” Amanda Nguyen carried a hospital bracelet with her, using the mission as a personal act of healing, and Flynn said she fulfilled a childhood dream sparked by stargazing with her grandfather.
Social Media Frenzy
The internet erupted with reactions. Fans celebrated Perry’s courage and message, but a large segment of users mocked the short duration of the mission, especially the dramatic way it was portrayed. Memes poking fun at Perry kissing the ground spread widely. One viral post read, “Katy Perry went to space for like 4 minutes w** is she kissing the ground for,” racking up 30 million views on X.
Others were more cutting: “Literally only Katy Perry could make going to space underwhelming,” one user wrote. Another joked, “Her awful songs have a longer run time than her space expedition.” Adding fuel to the fire, some conspiracy theorists claimed the trip was faked, pointing out that the capsule had “zero scorch marks” on landing.
Wendy’s Enters the Chat
Fast-food chain Wendy’s, known for its cheeky online presence, joined the trolling. Responding to a post about Perry’s return, it tweeted: “Can we send her back?” It followed with, “I kissed the ground and I liked it,” referencing Perry’s 2008 hit “I Kissed a Girl.” When a user pointed out the trip only lasted 10 minutes, the brand sarcastically responded, “Don’t short change her—it was 11 minutes.” The jabs continued with tweets like “When we said women in STEM, this isn’t what we meant,” drawing both laughs and criticism.
Historic Flight, Larger Message
Despite the internet frenzy, the Blue Origin mission marked an important milestone for women in space exploration and science. Lauren Sánchez, the first to exit the capsule, described the Earth as “quiet but alive,” and said she hoped the data collected during the flight would inspire students.
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The New Shepard rocket operates autonomously and has now completed its 11th crewed mission. For Perry and her crewmates, the journey was about more than spectacle. “This is all for the benefit of Earth,” said Perry. “I wanted to set an example of bravery, worthiness, and fearlessness because going to space is amazing.” Perry has since promised to write a song inspired by her cosmic experience—perhaps turning those 11 minutes into something more lasting after all.