Katy Perry chokes back tears after Blue Origin space trip – & pays tribute to daughter she shares with Orlando Bloom
KATY Perry choked back tears after returning from her history-making space mission — revealing an emotional tribute to her daughter in the process.
The pop star looked overwhelmed as she stepped out of the capsule, pausing to kiss the ground in a powerful moment of reflection.
Clutching a single daisy in her hand, Perry later revealed the meaning behind the gesture - a touching nod to her daughter, Daisy, with actor Orlando Bloom.
She also explained she carried it with her into space because daisies are “strong,” “powerful” and “resilient” flowers.
The singer said the space mission was “the highest high” — and promises a song inspired by the out-of-this-world trip is on the way.
Katy Perry soared 62 miles above Earth on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket — and is now safely back on solid ground after the 11-minute trip.
The mission fulfilled her lifelong dream of reaching space.
Adding to the symbolism of the day, the women soared past a pink moon — a fitting sight for the first all-female spaceflight in over 60 years.
His fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, was first to emerge and was visibly moved as she spoke about the experience.
“I’m so proud of this crew,” she said.
Most read in The US Sun
“Earth looked so quiet. It was just quiet. I don’t think you can describe it. It was quiet but also really alive. You look at it and you’re like, we’re all in this together. That’s all I could think about.”
She added: “I don’t cry that often so I didn’t expect to be this emotional.”
Joining them were, journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The crew launched from Texas and travelled just beyond the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s reusable New Shepard rocket, before parachuting back to Earth.
The rocket took off at around 8.30am local time.
You can follow our live blog below for all the latest updates ...
Thanks for joining us
We are pausing our live coverage now but we hope you enjoyed the historic all-female flight into space.
Watch Jeff Bezos face-plant in painful tumble as he runs to greet fiancee Lauren Sanchez in Blue Origin capsule
Watch moment excited Jeff Bezos takes painful tumble as he runs to greet fiancee Lauren Sanchez in Blue Origin capsuleIn case you missed it: today's Blue Origin mission highlights
An all-female crew — including pop superstar Katy Perry — has successfully returned to Earth after a brief but historic trip to the edge of space aboard Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket.
The New Shepard NS-31 mission soared past the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, giving the crew three minutes of weightlessness before safely parachuting back down.
On board were Perry, morning show icon Gayle King, ex-NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sánchez.
The flight marked the 11th human mission for the New Shepard program, which has now flown 52 people — including repeat flyers — to space.
Perry said she would “100%” record a song inspired by the journey, calling it “the highest high” and second only to becoming a mother.
King also revealed the pop star broke into a rendition of What a Wonderful World while in space.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: AFP
Blue Origin confirms spaceflight stats after historic all-female mission
Blue Origin has released official stats following today’s record-breaking all-female spaceflight.
The Crew Capsule hit an apogee of 346,802 ft AGL / 350,449 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL), while the booster reached 346,481 ft AGL / 350,128 ft MSL (106 km AGL / 107 km MSL).
Liftoff occurred at exactly 8:30:00 AM CDT / 13:30:00 UTC, with the capsule safely landing at 8:40:21 AM CDT / 13:40:21 UTC.
Total mission time: 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
Credit: AP Why did Oprah Winfrey wear yellow today?
Oprah Winfrey turned up in bright yellow to support best friend Gayle King as she blasted off on Blue Origin’s historic all-female spaceflight.
The reason? A sweet nod to Gayle’s call sign during the mission — “Sunshine.”
The CBS host chose the cheerful nickname ahead of the launch, and Oprah’s outfit was the perfect tribute for the big moment.
Credit: Blue Origin Gayle King reflects on 'oddly quiet' space trip
Gayle King, who nearly turned down the chance to join the Blue Origin mission, says she's "still floating" after touching back down on Earth.
“I can’t even believe what I saw,” she says.
“I’m so proud of me right now.”
The CBS host described space as “oddly quiet” and said it served as a powerful reminder that people need to “do better and be better” on Earth.
She also shared a laugh about the challenges of zero gravity, saying: “I looked like a friggin moose getting in the chair.”
Credit: Blue Origin ‘I will never be the same’ – Aisha Bowe reflects on life-changing mission
Aisha Bowe says she's forever changed after completing the all-female Blue Origin mission.
“I will never be the same,” she said.
“I feel like I picked the right dream.”
Bowe described the entire experience as unforgettable.
“The best part for me was actually the whole thing,” she said.
Recalling a powerful moment in zero gravity, she added: “When we got out there and we got out of our seats, we all just looked at each other and there was this… very special moment between us.”
The former NASA rocket scientist says the flight left her with a “renewed connection to everything in life and where we are”.
Credit: Blue Origin ‘The highest high’ – Katy Perry says spaceflight was second only to motherhood
Katy Perry says her Blue Origin space mission was “the highest high” — and promises a song inspired by the out-of-this-world trip is on the way.
Speaking after stepping out of the capsule, the pop star held a daisy aloft and revealed she carried it with her into space because daisies are “strong,” “powerful” and “resilient” flowers.
“It was the highest high,” she said.
“Second best thing to being a mom.”
The singer is mom to a four-year-old girl named Daisy, whom she shares with Orlando Bloom.
Perry also confirmed she will “100%” be writing a song about the life-changing experience.
Katy Perry sang 'What a Wonderful World' up in space
Katy Perry sang the "What a Wonderful World" in space, according to CBS News host Gayle King.
The iconic song was first recorded by American trumped player and singer Louis Armstrong.
Asked why she chose it, Perry explained: "I have covered that song in the past and obviously my higher self is always steering the ship.
"I think that it's not about me or about me singing my songs, it was about a collective energy in there.
"It's about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it."
Katy Perry 'connected to love' after 11-minute space trip
Katy Perry has started recounting her experience of going to space.
According to the singer, the encounter left her feeling "incredibly connected to love."
"I wanted to set an example of bravery, worthiness, and fearlessness because going to space is amazing," she said.
Credit: Blue Origin Sanchez sheds tears as she describes ‘complete and utter joy’ after spaceflight
Lauren Sanchez was visibly emotional as she reflected on the Blue Origin space mission, calling the experience “complete and utter joy”.
“I don’t cry that often so I didn’t expect to be this emotional,” she admitted.
Sanchez praised her fellow crewmates, saying: “I’m so proud of this crew,” before singling out journalist Gayle King — “so risk-averse she doesn’t even have ear piercings”.
Describing the view from space, Sanchez said: “Earth looked so quiet. It was just quiet. I don’t think you can describe it.
“It was quiet but also really alive. You look at it and you’re like, we’re all in this together. That’s all I could think about.”
Gayle King 'thanks Jesus' upon arrival
Gayle King also paused to kneel and kiss the ground after exiting the capsule, saying "thank you Jesus".
The journalist added: "Oh my god, that was amazing."
Credit: Blue Origin Bezos and Sanchez hug as she lands back safely
Credit: Blue Origin Katy Perry kisses the ground upon landing
As Katy Perry exits the capsule, she plants a kiss on the earth.
Blue Origin owner and billionaire Jeff Bezos is opening the door to welcome the six women as they begin to leave the crew capsule.
His fiancée Lauren Sanchez leaves first, and Katy Perry follows, pausing to kiss the ground as she held a daisy.
Credit: Blue Origin 
Credit: Blue Origin Crew capsule lands
The crew capsule has now landed back on Earth.
Three parachutes helped to guide it back to the base in West Texas, with all the crew onboard heard screaming with excitement.
Lauren Sanchez has confirmed to ground control that they are safe.
Orlando Bloom watches Blue Origin launch
Orlando Bloom has just watched his partner Katy Perry head off into space.
The actor was spotted in the crowd alongside Oprah Winfrey.
Credit: Blue Origin Rocket booster lands back on Earth with crew capsule on its way
The rocket booster has landed back on earth, while the crew capsule is heading back to Earth too, travelling at roughly 10 to 15mph.
Pictures: Rocket launches towards space
Credit: Blue Origin 
Credit: Blue Origin 
Credit: Blue Origin 
Credit: Blue Origin Crew is officially in space
The rocket has officially reached space as members of the all-women crew scream with excitement.
They have said they see the moon.
Rocket is now supersonic
The Blue Origin New Shepard is now supersonic - meaning it is travelling faster than the speed of sound as it makes its way into space.
Blast off!
The rocket has blasted into space with the all-women crew on board.
Pictured: Oprah Winfrey seen at Blue Origin launch
Credit: Blue Origin 
10 minutes to takeoff
We are now just 10 minutes away from the historic Blue Origin space mission.
The rocket is carrying Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn.
It will be the world's first all-female space mission for more than 60 years.
And you can watch it all unfold via our livestream in our video player at the top of this page.
Why does Blue Origin crew ring a bell?
As each Blue Origin crew member steps into the capsule, they pause to ring a silver bell — a unique tradition before launch.
A member of Blue Origin’s staff says the ritual is to “let the stars know that we’ve got some people heading their way”.
The bell is mounted below a quote from legendary astronaut Alan Shepard, the rocket’s namesake: “Light this candle”.
Before strapping in, the team huddled for a quick pre-launch talk — with Jeff Bezos himself joining the conversation.
Everyone looks calm and focused with less than 30 minutes to go.
Jeff Bezos gives final words of support before liftoff
Jeff Bezos, stepped into the capsule with the crew for a final send-off — including his partner, Lauren Sanchez, who’s making the trip.
Moments ago, the Amazon boss exited after sharing some parting words to the crew.
He said: “Most amazing, most profound experience,” he said.
“I don’t want to get off, I want to go with you. When you get back, I want to hear how it’s changed you. Godspeed.”
Credit: Blue Origins