A Cosmic Leap: Is Pop the Final Frontier?

Just when you thought space tourism couldn't get more star-studded, pop icon Katy Perry launched into orbit with an all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. On April 14, 2025, Perry joined journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, and pilot Lauren Sánchez on a historic 11-minute journey past the Kármán line—the boundary of space. The mission marked the first all-female crewed spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963. 

Upon landing, Perry and Gayle King kissed the Earth, expressing gratitude for the experience and thankfulness to be back on solid ground.

While some critics questioned the symbolism of a celebrity-led space mission, others celebrated it as a step toward greater representation in aerospace. Regardless of the debate, Perry's journey undeniably added a touch of pop stardust to the annals of space history.

But let's not forget about the women that led the way for this star-studded female crew to take to the skies.

Female Astronauts Who Made History

Valentina Tereshkova (USSR)
In 1963, Tereshkova became the first woman in space, orbiting Earth 48 times aboard Vostok 6. A factory worker turned cosmonaut, she shattered gender barriers and paved the way for future generations of women in space.

Sally Ride (USA)
The first American woman in space, Ride flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. A physicist with a passion for education, she later founded Sally Ride Science to inspire young people—especially girls—to pursue STEM careers.

Mae Jemison
In 1992, Jemison became the first Black woman in space, serving as a mission specialist on Endeavour. A medical doctor, engineer, and dancer, she embodies the idea that science and art can—and do—coexist.

Read more about the Endeavour here.

Christina Koch & Jessica Meir
In 2019, these two NASA astronauts made history by conducting the first all-female spacewalk—a powerful moment that showcased how far women have come in what was once a male-dominated frontier.

The Scientists Behind the Scenes

Katherine Johnson
A brilliant mathematician whose calculations were essential to NASA’s early spaceflights—including John Glenn’s orbital mission—Johnson's story gained widespread recognition through Hidden Figures. Her legacy is one of quiet brilliance and lasting impact.

Margaret Hamilton
As the lead software engineer for the Apollo missions, Hamilton literally wrote the code that helped land astronauts on the Moon. Her work created the foundation for modern software engineering—and she even coined the term.

Mary Jackson & Dorothy Vaughan
Pioneers at NASA’s Langley Research Center, these women not only contributed to vital aeronautics and space programs, but also broke down racial and gender barriers in the STEM field, mentoring future generations of women scientists.

These women—past and present—have proven that space isn’t a boys’ club. It’s a place where curiosity, courage, and intelligence know no gender. As we look to the stars and dream of what’s next, we owe so much of our progress to the women who dared to defy gravity—literally and figuratively.

If you're interested in the history of space travel, here are a few more books you might like.