‘Katy Perry described the flight as “second only to motherhood,” and she found herself deeply moved. Apparently, during the descent, she sang What a Wonderful World, later sharing that the experience of going to the edge of space was “a spiritual high”,’ says Jemimah Wright.
When Valentina Tereshkova rocketed into orbit on June 16, 1963, aboard the Soviet Vostok 6 spacecraft, she became the first woman to travel to space. It is not known whether she had a spiritual experience, as at the time, being from communist Russia, she could not speak publicly about God or religious beliefs. Shannon Lucid a NASA astronaut and biochemist flew on five space flights and spent considerable time gazing at Earth from the station’s observation window. She has said she was struck by the “majesty of the unfolding scene,” which deepened her sense of awe and reverence, reminding me of Psalm 19:1: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.’
Now 82 years old, a committed Christian and mother of three, Shannon has often credited her faith for helping her stay calm and focused during long-duration missions in isolation
Now 82 years old, a committed Christian and mother of three, Shannon has often credited her faith for helping her stay calm and focused during long-duration missions in isolation. She said in one interview: “I always knew that God was there and that he would take care of me.”
Her last trip lasted 188 days, a little longer than the ten-minute flight that six female celebrities took yesterday.
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On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket launched from a private ranch in West Texas, carrying an all-female crew to the edge of space. The six women aboard included pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, journalist and fiancée of Jeff Bezos . This 10-minute, 21-second suborbital flight reached the Kármán line, approximately 62 miles above Earth, marking the first all-female crewed spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission.
Whatever you think of the mission, publicity stunt or “making space for future women,” as Katy has said, the experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Katy Perry described the flight as “second only to motherhood,” and she found herself deeply moved. Apparently, during the descent, she sang What a Wonderful World, later sharing that the experience of going to the edge of space was “a spiritual high”.
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The Guardian reported Katy saying that the experience has shown her how much love there is inside of her, adding that you cannot know how much you are loved “until the day you launch”.
Katy carried a daisy flower on the flight with her, while her daughter, Daisy, four, watched on. Speaking about her daughter and why she carried a daisy flower on the flight, she said: “Daisies are common flowers but they grow through any condition. They grow through cement, cracks, walls. They are resilient, they are strong, they are everywhere. Flowers, to me, are God’s smile but they are also a reminder of our beautiful earth. The beautiful magic is everywhere, all around us, even in a simple daisy.”
Flowers, to me, are God’s smile but they are also a reminder of our beautiful earth. The beautiful magic is everywhere, all around us, even in a simple daisy.
We know that Katy’s parents, Maurice “Keith” Hudson, and Mary Hudson – née Perry – have both been Pentecostal pastors and evangelical ministers for over four decades. And her ex-husband, Russell Brand, who she was married to from 2010 to 2012, has had a very public conversion to Christianity.
When she was 16, Katy released a Christian gospel album under her birth name, Katy Hudson. However, as she ventured into mainstream pop, she has said in interviews that she began to question the beliefs she had been taught.
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Over time, Perry’s understanding of faith has evolved. In various interviews, she has identified herself as a “seeker” of spiritual truth, exploring various religious and philosophical perspectives. She has expressed that she no longer identifies with any specific religion, including Christianity, but says she maintains a deep connection with a higher power. Katy has said she emphasizes the importance of gratitude in her spiritual practice, often praying for self-control and humility .
A pivotal moment in Perry’s spiritual journey occurred in 2017, following the release of her album Witness. She experienced what she described as “situational depression” and sought personal growth through the Hoffman Process, a week-long retreat. Perry credited this experience with helping her feel “closer to God” and freeing her from societal conditioning.
Going into space is an extreme way to try to connect to God, but let’s pray that Katy’s experience would have indeed drawn her closer to her Creator.
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