It finally happened. We've seen her shoot whipped cream from her chest and turn into a literal jungle queen, but last year, the Katy Perry space video shifted from CGI pop-art to actual, terrifying reality. On April 14, 2025, the woman who gave us "E.T." strapped herself into a New Shepard rocket and left the atmosphere.
Honestly? It was kind of a lot to process.
One minute she's on American Idol judging hopefuls, and the next, she's floating 62 miles above the Texas desert. This wasn't just some clever marketing for her 143 album or a high-budget music video shoot. It was a 10-minute suborbital flight with Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission. If you haven't seen the footage of her kissing the ground when she landed, you're missing the most human moment of her career.
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Why the Katy Perry Space Video is More Than Just a PR Stunt
People love to hate on celebrity space travel. When the news broke that Katy was joining Lauren Sánchez and Gayle King on an all-female flight, the internet went into a predictable tailspin. Critics called it "disgusting" and "tone-deaf." But if you actually watch the Katy Perry space video from the capsule, the vibe is surprisingly grounded.
Katy wasn't just there to take selfies.
During the few minutes of weightlessness, she did something pretty unexpected. She pulled out a butterfly-shaped piece of paper. On it was the handwritten setlist for her "Lifetimes" tour. It was a literal "reveal from the stars," which is incredibly on-brand for a woman whose fans are called KatyCats and who has spent two decades building a neon-soaked, futuristic persona.
The Song Heard ‘Round the Thermosphere
Most people expected her to blast "Firework" or "Dark Horse" while looking at the Earth. Instead, the video captures her singing a soft, shaky rendition of Louis Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World."
It’s a bit surreal.
Her voice, usually polished by top-tier producers like Dr. Luke or Max Martin, sounds thin and raw in the zero-G environment. You can see the genuine shock on her face as she looks at the curve of the Earth. She later told interviewers that her "higher self" was steering the ship. Whether you buy into the spiritual talk or not, seeing a pop titan look that small is a trip.
The Technical Reality of the Flight
Let’s get into the weeds for a second. This wasn't a trip to the Moon. The Blue Origin flight is suborbital. This means the rocket goes up, hits the Karman line (the internationally recognized boundary of space), and falls back down.
- Altitude: ~100 kilometers (62 miles)
- Duration: Roughly 11 minutes from launch to landing
- Crew: Six women, including Aisha Bowe and Amanda Nguyen
- G-Force: Intense enough to make your face look like it's melting for a second
The Katy Perry space video shows the moment of re-entry, which is arguably the scariest part. There’s a massive sonic boom. The parachutes deploy. The capsule hits the dirt with a "perfect landing" thud. Seeing Katy emerge from that capsule, falling to her knees to kiss the Texas soil, felt like a scene from a movie, but the dust on her suit was real.
Visuals vs. Reality: Comparing "E.T." to NS-31
For years, the "E.T." music video was our only reference for Katy in space. That video was all about heavy prosthetics, Kanye West floating in a lawn chair, and a lot of green screens. The real Katy Perry space video is much grittier.
There’s no glam squad at 300,000 feet.
In the raw footage, you see the messy reality of space travel: the tangled communication wires, the bulky blue flight suits, and the way hair just sort of... explodes in every direction when gravity disappears. It’s the antithesis of the "Woman's World" aesthetic. While that music video was criticized for being a bit too "AI-generated" and "out of touch," the Blue Origin footage feels undeniably authentic. It’s just a person, scared and excited, looking at the moon.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Backlash
If you look at the comments under any Katy Perry space video on YouTube or TikTok, it’s a war zone. People are mad about the carbon footprint. They’re mad about billionaires playing with rockets.
But here’s the thing:
This flight was the first all-female crew mission of its kind. While the "Eat the Rich" sentiment is strong, the video also captures a moment of massive representation. Astronaut and researcher Aisha Bowe was on that flight. Activist Amanda Nguyen was too. Katy essentially used her massive platform to put eyes on a mission that would have otherwise just been a blurb in a science journal.
Is it "soul-less," as some critics like Kinsey Schofield claimed? Or is it just a 40-year-old woman finally doing the one thing she’s been singing about since 2011?
The Impact on the Lifetimes Tour
Katy didn't just leave the space experience in the desert. If you’ve been to the opening nights of the Lifetimes tour in Mexico City or beyond, you know the Katy Perry space video is the blueprint for the entire show.
She’s recreated the choreography of the flight on stage.
She wears a silver metal bodysuit that looks like a high-fashion version of her flight gear. She literally flies over the audience to take selfies with "astronauts" in blue suits. It’s her way of clapping back at the people who called her "crazy" for going up there. She actually asks the audience, "Has anyone ever called your dreams crazy?" right before launching into a medley of hits.
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The Setlist Revealed in Orbit
If you’re heading to a show, here’s what the "space setlist" actually confirmed:
- Woman’s World (The high-energy opener)
- E.T. (Obviously, now with 100% more context)
- California Gurls
- I’M HIS, HE’S MINE (The Doechii collab that goes hard live)
- Firework (The finale)
She also added a "Choose Your Own Adventure" section where fans pick deep cuts she’s never performed. It’s a bit of a gamble, but it keeps the show from feeling like a nostalgia trip.
How to Find the Best Footage
If you're looking for the actual Katy Perry space video, don't just search "Katy Perry space" on YouTube—you'll get a thousand fan-made AI clips. Search for the "Blue Origin NS-31 Full Broadcast."
You want the raw feed.
The most interesting part isn't the launch; it's the post-landing interview with Charissa Thompson. Katy looks completely drained. She talks about the "fragility of the planet" and how "taking up space" is a metaphor for women belonging in rooms where they haven't been invited. It’s surprisingly deep for a woman who once sang about a "Peacock."
Actionable Steps for the Curious
If this whole saga has you interested in more than just pop music, here is how you can dive deeper into the reality of what Katy experienced:
- Watch the On-Board Camera: Look for the specific "interior capsule" clips from NS-31 to see the physics of weightlessness without the music editing.
- Follow the Crew: Check out Aisha Bowe and Amanda Nguyen’s social media. They shared much more technical and behind-the-scenes content than Katy did.
- Check the Tour Dates: If you want to see the "space-inspired" version of her hits, the Lifetimes tour is running through December 2026, ending in Abu Dhabi.
- Read the NASA Reports: If you're worried about the environmental impact, look up the studies on liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engines (like the one Blue Origin uses), which are significantly cleaner than older rocket fuels.
The Katy Perry space video might just be another chapter in a long, weird career, but it’s probably the most daring thing a pop star has done in decades. Love her or hate her, she actually went. No green screen required.