If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately wondering when is Katy Perry going to space, the answer might actually surprise you. She already went.
Yeah, you heard that right. On April 14, 2025, the "Firework" singer swapped her stage costumes for a flight suit and blasted off from a dusty launch site in West Texas. It wasn't some far-off "someday" plan or a cryptic tweet. It actually happened.
The day Katy Perry finally went to space
The mission was called NS-31, a high-profile launch by Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin. This wasn't just another celebrity joyride, though. It was marketed as a historic all-female mission. Katy wasn't alone in that tiny capsule; she was packed in there with some pretty heavy hitters.
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We’re talking about Lauren Sánchez (Bezos’ fiancée), Gayle King from CBS Mornings, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyễn, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The whole thing was fast. Like, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fast.
The New Shepard rocket roared off the pad at about 9:30 a.m. local time. About three minutes later, the capsule separated from the booster. That’s when things got real. The crew hit the Kármán line, which is the internationally recognized boundary of space, about 62 miles up.
They weren't orbiting the Earth for days like ISS astronauts. It was a suborbital flight. Basically, they went straight up, hung out in zero gravity for about four minutes, and then came right back down. The whole experience lasted roughly 11 minutes from liftoff to the parachutes hitting the desert floor.
Singing in zero gravity and kissing the dirt
Honestly, the most "Katy Perry" part of the trip happened while she was floating. While the crew was unbuckled and drifting around the cabin, Katy reportedly started singing Louis Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World."
Gayle King later mentioned that Katy’s voice helped calm the nerves in the cabin. It’s gotta be a bit terrifying, right? Looking out a window and seeing the literal curvature of the Earth against the pitch-black void of the universe isn't exactly a normal Tuesday.
Katy even brought a little piece of home with her. She carried a daisy into the capsule as a tribute to her daughter, Daisy Dove.
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But when they landed? That’s when the internet went into a bit of a meltdown. As soon as Katy stepped out of the capsule, she dropped to her knees and kissed the Texas ground. Some people found it moving. Others? Well, let’s just say the "tone-deaf" accusations started flying almost immediately.
Why everyone is still talking about it in 2026
Even though the flight is in the rearview mirror, people are still obsessed with the details. Mostly because of the backlash.
Critics like Olivia Wilde and Emily Ratajkowski didn't hold back. They pointed out the weird irony of celebrities preaching about "protecting Mother Earth" while burning massive amounts of rocket fuel for an 11-minute photo op. Emrata even called the whole thing "end times shit" on TikTok.
Then there’s the money. While Blue Origin is famously tight-lipped about ticket prices, seats on these flights usually go for anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000. Some people speculate that because this was such a massive PR win for Bezos, the "Woman’s World" singer might have had her seat sponsored.
What Katy says now
Katy has been pretty open about the fact that she’s wanted to do this for twenty years. To her, it wasn't about the "influencer" moment—though she did use the opportunity to hold up a butterfly-shaped setlist for her upcoming tour while in orbit.
She told reporters after landing that it was about "taking up space" and showing her daughter that the sky isn't the limit. Whether you think it was a giant leap for women or just a really expensive commercial for Amazon, you can’t deny it was a moment.
What’s next for celebrity space travel?
If you were hoping to see Katy head back up for a longer stay, don't hold your breath. For now, she seems content with her "one and done" mission. The 2025 flight gave her the "astronaut" title (even if some NASA purists argue about that label for tourists) and a story to tell for the rest of her life.
If you’re looking to follow in her footsteps, here’s the reality check:
- Save your pennies: You’ll need a minimum of $150,000 just for the deposit with most private space firms.
- Physicals are real: You don't need to be an Olympic athlete, but you do have to pass basic health screenings to handle the G-forces.
- Expect the wait: Even with the money, the waitlists for companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are years long.
The era of the "celebrity astronaut" is definitely here. We've seen William Shatner, Michael Strahan, and now Katy Perry cross the line. It’s becoming the ultimate status symbol, moving way past the classic "buying a private island" phase.
If you want to stay updated on the next big star heading to the stars, keep an eye on the Blue Origin flight manifests for 2026. Rumor has it a few more A-listers are currently in training at Launch Site One.
Check the official Blue Origin YouTube channel if you want to see the raw footage of Katy’s launch. It’s actually pretty wild to see the booster land itself vertically while the capsule drifts down on those massive blue-and-white parachutes. Just maybe skip the comment section if you aren't in the mood for a heated debate on environmental ethics.