History was made when Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission successfully returned to Earth with its groundbreaking all-female crew on Monday. The six-woman team celebrated their achievement with the ceremonial ringing of the mission bell, a moment that quickly went viral across social media platforms worldwide.
The emotional scene captured Jeff Bezos, alongside the crew members, taking turns ringing the bell after their 10-minute journey to space. This powerful tradition symbolized not just mission success but a significant milestone for women in space exploration.
Historic All-Female Spaceflight Marks First Since 1963
Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission launched from West Texas at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Monday. The flight marked the first all-female crew to reach space since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s pioneering journey in 1963.
The six-person crew included journalist Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, and Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. Their New Shepard vehicle carried them just beyond the Kármán line, located 62 miles above Earth’s surface. This boundary is internationally recognized as the edge of space.
The brief yet meaningful suborbital trip lasted exactly 10 minutes and 21 seconds. Tens of thousands watched the livestream while supporters including Oprah Winfrey observed the launch in person from the Texas site.
Emotional Touchdown and Bell-Ringing Celebration Goes Viral
A video showing the bell-ringing ceremony has amassed over 1.3 million views on X (formerly Twitter). The clip shows each crew member taking their turn at the bell, with expressions ranging from tears to triumphant fist pumps.
Upon landing, several emotional moments unfolded as the crew processed their experience. Both Perry and King dropped to their knees to touch the ground after exiting the capsule. Their reactions demonstrated the profound impact of seeing Earth from space.
“It’s oddly quiet when you get up there,” King later shared about her experience. “It’s really quiet and peaceful, and you look down on the planet and think: That’s where we came from? To me it’s such a reminder about how we need to do better, be better.”
Zero Gravity Experience Inspires Crew’s Message of Unity
While floating in zero gravity for several minutes, the crew shared a special moment. King revealed that Perry softly sang a few lines from Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” as they gazed at Earth from space.
The passengers marveled at the view of both Earth and the moon during their brief time beyond our atmosphere. Their capsule safely returned to Earth via parachute, landing in a West Texas valley as planned.
“I think that it’s not about me, it’s not about singing my songs, it’s about the collective energy in there,” Perry explained after landing. “It’s about making space for future women, and taking up space and belonging, and it’s about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it.”
Social Media Reactions Highlight Mixed Public Response
The mission drew widespread attention across social media platforms. While some celebrated the achievement with comments like “Let’s go, America” and “Loved every second of this. I hope young girls around the world are inspired,” others expressed criticism.
Several commenters questioned the value of “space tourism” and the resources involved. One user noted, “Space tourism: It only took 10 minutes to fly 62 miles or 100 kilometers to the edge of space & back.”
Despite mixed reactions, the mission undeniably created a powerful visual message. The image of six women experiencing space together while representing different backgrounds and professions has resonated with many viewers worldwide who see it as an inspirational step forward.
