Blue Origin rocket launch - as it happened: What Katy Perry sang in space and how all-female crew reacted to flight

Katy Perry reacts to space flight

We brought you a summary of Katy Perry's comments after she emerged from the space capsule earlier.

But if you wanted more from the Roar and Firework singer, here's the interview in full.

She'll explain that daisy, what she sang in space and more besides. 

Space journalist has 'mixed feelings' about flight

Space journalist Kate Arkless Gray says she has "mixed feelings" about the all-female flight.

Speaking earlier, she said it's great that younger people will "see these inspirational women doing this" but added: "What a shame that it's actually a commercial mission."

"I still think we're a little bit far away from the time when we see an all-female crew launching perhaps to the International Space Station, and that does sadden me a bit, to be honest."

Still, she added the more women travelling in space, the better.

"The one thing that that they [the passengers] have in common is that they're all storytellers," she said of today's flight. 

"So it'll be really interesting to see what the impact of viewing the globe from space has on each of them and how they then choose to tell that story and share that with their communities.

"I think it will reach a lot of people in new ways."

How much preparation did the crew have to do for today's successful space flight?

Astronauts spend years preparing for space travel.

Before they're even assigned a mission, NASA trains potential astronauts in shuttle and space station systems, Earth sciences, meteorology, space science and engineering, land and water survival, aircraft operations and scuba diving.

Once they've been given their mission, they then begin specialist training. They're paired with experienced astronauts who teach them how to perform spacewalks, fly shuttles, command the mission or carry out scientific research.

Katy Perry and the crew did not have to do all of this intensive preparation as their four-minute stint in space was on a self-driving rocket and didn't require them to perform any scientific operations.

Watch Perry chat about the flight preparation in the video below... 

Preparations in Texas

The women's trip is still significant, however, and they've been getting ready for months, according to an interview in Elle magazine.

As well as individual preparations, like meditation lessons for broadcaster Gayle King and zero-gravity simulations for producer Kerianne Flynn, the group went to Texas for the weekend, getting to know their shuttle, space suits and procedures.

They will have been guided through what the flight feels and sounds like, learning everything from how to respond to ground control to where the oxygen masks are located.

Two crucial phrases

Crucially, they will have learnt two important phrases - "time-out" and "I will not fly" - according to Blue Origin director Sarah Knights, speaking in 2021.

They had until T-minus 2 minutes and 30 seconds before lift-off to use those phrases. 

After that, the vehicle controls itself, and it can be risky to stop the launch.

But as we know, all six women successfully went to space and back, with no one backing out.

'We've got business to handle'

Although some of the crew were anxious beforehand, Katy Perry had no such qualms.

She told Elle: "I don't have any time to be nervous; I ain't got time to be worried.

"I'm going to feel something when they go, '10, 9, 8, 7,…' but until then, we've got stuff to do. 

"We've got business to handle." 

'Space tourism is only for the super rich at the moment'

Now it's all over, and we've just heard from the crew members - several of whom encouraged others to embrace the experience of space travel.

But, for most of us, that's not really a realistic option.

The deposit for each passenger today was £115,000, while the full price of the ticket has never been disclosed, science correspondent Thomas Moore explains.

"Some people watching this can't even afford to buy a box of eggs," Moore says.

"Space tourism is only for the super rich at the moment.

"Those who are supporters of this kind of venture would say that it accelerates innovation and that spreads through the whole of the space industry. 

"But there are others who are very uncomfortable about the inequality of space travel and also, of course, about its environmental impact."

Perry says she feels 'super connected to love' after singing What A Wonderful World in space

Katy Perry says she feels "super connected to love" after taking part in the space flight.

The pop sensation says the experience has shown her that you "never know how much love is inside of you, how much love you have to give and how loved you are". 

After she left the capsule, she held a daisy into the sky, and she explains that she took it on board because they are "strong ", "powerful" and "resilient" flowers.

As the passengers were leaving space and starting their descent, Perry started to sing What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. 

Asked why she chose that song, she says: "I have covered that song in the past and obviously my higher self is always steering the ship.

"I think that it's not about me or about me singing my songs, it was about a collective energy in there. It's about this wonderful world that we see right out there and appreciating it." 

She also confirms that she will 100% be writing a song based on her experience. 

"It was the highest high," she says. 

Bowe says she will 'never be the same'

"I will never be the same," says Aisha Bowe.

She says she feels like she "picked the right dream".

"The best part from me was actually the whole thing," says Bowe.

"When we got out there and we got out of our seats, we all just looked at each other and there was this... very special moment between us."

She says she feels a "renewed connection to everything in life and where we are".

'I looked like a moose' - King reflects on 'oddly quiet' space

Gayle King was one of the most nervous members of the crew, explaining prior to the flight that she almost turned the opportunity down. 

Reacting to the trip, she says she is "still floating" after returning to Earth. 

"I can't even believe what I saw," she says. "I'm so proud of me right now." 

She adds that it was "oddly quiet" in space and it reminded her that people needed to "do better and be better" on Earth. 

She laughs as she explains what it was like trying to get back into her chair in zero gravity. 

"I looked like a friggin moose getting in the chair," King says.

She also confirms that Katy Perry sang What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong as they left space. 

Flynn: 'Most incredible experience of my life'

"It was the most incredible experience of my life to be up there and see such vast darkness in space and look down on our planet," says Kerianne Flynn, through tears.

"The moon was so beautiful and I feel like that was a special gift just for me.

"I was looking down and knowing everyone I loved was standing down there looking back up at me.

"I just hope that these types of experiences clear a path for everyone to do that."

'No dream is too wild'

Passenger and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen uses her moment back on Earth to tell people that "no dream is too wild". 

She explains that she took a written promise to herself on the flight, which she floated as the rocket entered space. 

The note reads: "Never, never give up". 

Nguyen is known for her advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, which led to the passage of the Sexual Assault Survivors Rights Act in Congress. 

She explains that she paused her dream to become an astronaut to fight for rights, and hoped that one day the opportunity to enter space would return to her. 

'I don't think you can describe it': Tearful Sanchez says space flight wasn't what she expected

Passenger Lauren Sanchez says she is "so proud of this crew".

She says Gayle King is usually so risk-averse that she doesn't even have ear piercings.

"Earth looked so quiet. It was just quiet," she says, adding it was not what she expected.

"I don't think you can describe it. It was quiet but also really alive.

"You look at it and you're like, we're all in this together. That's all I could think about."

She says she feels "complete and utter joy", before welling up.

"I don't cry that often so I didn't expect to be this emotional."

Katy Perry kisses the ground as she leaves capsule

All six women are starting to exit the crew capsule, with billionaire and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos opening the hatch to greet them. 

First out is his fiancee Lauren Sanchez, followed by Katy Perry who takes a moment to hold a daisy to the sky before kissing the ground.

Gayle King says "thank you Jesus" as she leaves, stopping to kneel and kiss the ground. 

"Oh my god, that was amazing," she says.

Has the flight convinced Khloe Kardashian to go into space?

Lots of celebrities are at the launch site today to support their friends. 

One of them is businesswoman and reality show star Khloe Kardashian who says she had "chills all over" her body during the flight. 

She is there supporting Lauren Sanchez, a close friend of the Kardashian family. 

"I didn't realise how emotional it would be. It's incredible. It takes your breath away, I feel like I have all this adrenaline and I'm just standing here," she adds. 

"I cannot wait to get the footage from inside [the rocket]." 

She's asked if she would go into space after seeing the flight, to which she says seeing this mission has made it a "little more enticing". 

Her mum, Kris Jenner, says it's been a "great day" and she is "thrilled" that all of the women are safe. 

Crew capsule touches down

The crew capsule is also heading down, travelling at around 10 to 15mph. 

Three parachutes are helping to guide the capsule safely back to the base in West Texas.

A puff of dust can be seen surrounding the capsule as it touches down. 

All of the crew can be heard screaming with excitement before Lauren Sanchez confirms to ground control that they are safe. 

-SKY NEWS