A musical milestone at a hundred kilometers altitude

Katy Perry made history with a rare space performance, traveling into space with an all-female crew on April 14. But behind the musical moment lies a hefty price tag, and a debate that extends beyond the atmosphere.

We already knew that Katy Perry loves the stage. But the idea that she would ever let herself be launched in a rocket to What a Wonderful World to sing live from space? Even her most loyal fans didn't see that coming. Together with five other women, she boarded the NS-31 mission of Blue Origin, the space company of Jeff Bezos. Their destination: just beyond the Kármán line - the edge of space. The flight lasted eleven minutes, but marked a chapter in space history.

The mission was historic for several reasons. Never before had Blue Origin sent an all-female crew into space. In addition to Perry, the crew included TV icon Gayle King, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, human rights activist Amanda Nguyen and Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez. During the flight, they experienced three minutes of weightlessness, with views of both the curvature of the Earth and a glimpse of the moon.

Millions for minutes

However, a ticket to space appears to be priced anything but symbolically. Official figures are not shared, but estimates range from $500.000 to over $1.000.000 per seat. On top of that, a deposit of $150.000 is requested upon registration. For previous flights, a bid of $28 million was even made.

While some see the mission as inspiring, there is also strong criticism. On social media, Perry was accused of being out of touch with reality, especially at a time when social problems and climate crises dominate. An eleven-minute flight in a private rocket feels like a symbol of inequality and disconnection to many people.

Yet for Perry, this mission was more than a marketing opportunity. In interviews, she spoke openly about her fascination with astronomy and space. “I believe in speaking your dreams,” she said. By participating, she not only wanted to pursue her own dream, but also to inspire young women to think big—even beyond the atmosphere. Did that message get through? Only time will tell.