Gayle King has been named to a space crew taking on a historic mission. According to a press release from Blue Origin, the veteran journalist will be part of an all-woman collective heading to outer space in a landmark journey.
“I don’t know how to explain being terrified and excited at the same time. It’s like how I felt about to deliver a baby,” King exclaimed during the announcement on CBS Mornings. “I thought I wanted to open myself up to new adventures and step out of my comfort zone.”
She continued to detail, “Once Kirby and Will and Oprah was fine with it, I was fine,” adding, “I thought Oprah would say no, no. She said, ‘I think if you don’t do it, when they all come back and you had the opportunity to do it, you will be kicking yourself.’ She’s right.”
Blue Origin
Along with King, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist and bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, global pop star Katy Perry, and Emmy Award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, pilot, Lauren Sánchez.
“These women are so bada**,” detailed the 70-year-old of her crew members. “They have such amazing life stories.”
According to a press statement, the mission will be the 11th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 31st in its history. Since it’s beginnings, the program has flown 52 people above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. The Jeff Bezos-founded company also noted this will be the first all-female flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963. The flight will launch this spring, with a specific date to be announced.
“I feel well prepared. I believe in Blue Origin, what they’re doing,” remarked King. “I am really excited and actually looking forward to it.”
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