Gayle King and Katy Perry took part in a historic Blue Origin space flight on April 14, 2025. The all-female crew spent about 10 minutes in space. They called it a life-changing experience.
However, King’s facial expression during the launch went viral. As she boarded the New Shepard spacecraft, she looked very nervous. This was different from her crewmates, who were all smiles.
"We're putting the 'ass' in astronauts" — before the launch today, Katy Perry sums up the Blue Origin flight suits. https://t.co/JwGuatskhw
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) April 14, 2025
The Internet quickly reacted to King’s look of terror. Live coverage showed six women walking to the spacecraft, including Jeff Bezos‘ fiancée Lauren Sanchez. While the others excitedly rang the mission bell, King’s fear was clear.
"The private aerospace industry’s largely male clientele may not wish to bro down forever on Mars. They will desire moms to go to space with them, and fiancées too."
Every sentence of this @amandahess piece is perfect https://t.co/iXpKDYNuHY
— Emma Goldberg (@emmabgo) April 14, 2025
Gayle King’s nervous space launch
After the successful zero-gravity trip, King and Perry kissed the ground, relieved to be back on Earth. King, Oprah’s best friend, talked about her fear at a press conference.
“I was so afraid. I just wanted to get into my seat and let the training kick in,” she said. “Walking up there was daunting for me.”
King said space was “quiet and peaceful.” She was amazed by the view of Earth.
She hoped the trip would remind people of our planet’s fragility and our need to take care of it. Although King’s anxious face has led to many memes, people mostly feel positive. They appreciate the historic flight and the courage of the crew.
Everyone is glad King and her colleagues made it back safely with unique memories.
Image Credits: Photo by Natalya on Unsplash
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
