Get ready for some seriously out-of-this-world news because CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King is about to become an astronaut! That's right folks the queen of morning TV is trading in her news desk for a spacesuit and heading to the final frontier with Blue Origin. This is not a drill! Prepare for launch!
Gayle King to Blast Off to Space: CBS Mornings Co-host Joins Blue Origin's Historic All-Women Flight Crew for Groundbreaking Mission
In a super exciting reveal on CBS Mornings they announced that Gayle King will be on Blue Origin 's next trip to space. And it's not just any trip it's going to be historic! This flight is set to be the first ever all-female crew for Blue Origin's New Shepard program. Talk about making history!
Gayle won't be alone on this adventure. She will be joined by a seriously impressive group of women including pop superstar Katy Perry journalist and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn. This is a team of powerhouse women taking on space and we are totally here for it.
This flight is a big deal because it’s the first all-female space crew since way back in 1963 when Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova went solo. Blue Origin's 11th human flight is breaking barriers and sending an important message about women in space exploration.
Terrified and Excited? Gayle King's Honest Reaction to Her Upcoming Space Adventure Sounds Just Like Us
When Gayle shared the news she kept it real about her feelings. She said she was "terrified and excited at the same time". Honestly that’s how most of us would probably feel! She even compared it to the feeling of delivering a baby which gives you an idea of the mix of emotions she is experiencing. Space is definitely outside of Gayle's comfort zone but she is embracing the challenge head-on.
Blue Origin's New Shepard program is all about giving people a taste of space. These flights are about 11 minutes long and go beyond the Kármán line which is considered the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. So far Blue Origin has sent over 50 people on these incredible rides and now Gayle is joining their ranks for flight number 11.
Star-Studded Space Crew: Katy Perry Lauren Sanchez and More Amazing Women Join Gayle King on Blue Origin Flight to the Stars
Let's talk about the rest of this amazing all-women crew because it’s a seriously impressive lineup. Joining Gayle on this journey are some truly remarkable women from different fields. Katy Perry as we all know is a global music icon. Lauren Sánchez is a journalist philanthropist and entrepreneur and is engaged to Amazon's Jeff Bezos who owns Blue Origin. Aisha Bowe is a former NASA rocket scientist bringing serious space expertise to the team. Amanda Nguyen is a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee fighting for important causes. And Kerianne Flynn is a film producer adding some Hollywood magic to the mix.
Lauren Sánchez is especially excited and even joked about her children’s book "The Fly Who Flew to Space" becoming reality. She wrote the book before knowing she would go to space and now she feels like she’s following in her character Flynn's footsteps. She sees this flight as more than just a trip it's a chance to inspire future generations to dream big and explore. Katy Perry meanwhile hopes to encourage others to "reach for the stars" with her participation on this flight even as she gears up for her massive Lifetimes Tour.
What to Expect From the Flight and How to Watch Gayle's Out-of-This-World Space Journey From Your Couch
So what exactly will this space flight be like? Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket launches vertically and takes the crew on a suborbital flight. They will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and get to see the curvature of the Earth from space. It's a relatively short but intensely thrilling ride.
If you want to watch Gayle's space adventure live mark your calendars! CBS will be covering the launch on Monday morning. You can catch pre-launch coverage and updates on CBS Mornings and watch the actual launch on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+. You don’t have to miss a moment of this historic event!
Lauren Sanchez is particularly excited about experiencing the "Overview Effect". This is the shift in perspective that astronauts often report when seeing Earth from space. It's supposed to be a life-changing experience and Lauren is eager to see our planet from that unique vantage point.
Meet the All-Women Crew of Blue Origin's Historic Flight:
- Gayle King: Co-host of CBS Mornings and media icon.
- Katy Perry: Global pop superstar and philanthropist.
- Lauren Sánchez: Journalist philanthropist entrepreneur and Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund.
- Aisha Bowe: Former NASA rocket scientist and aerospace engineer.
- Amanda Nguyen: Civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
- Kerianne Flynn: Film producer and entrepreneur.
Get Ready for Launch! Gayle King and the All-Women Crew Take Off to Space in Historic Blue Origin Flight
This all-women Blue Origin flight with Gayle King is shaping up to be a truly special event. It’s historic it’s inspiring and it’s going to be amazing to witness. From Gayle's honest excitement to the incredible crew she's joining this mission is one to watch. Get ready to see Gayle King and these extraordinary women reach for the stars and show the world that the sky is definitely not the limit!