Gayle King Reacts to Becoming a Space Meme After Blue Origin Trip

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Breaking news, Gayle King has seen the memes.

Reflecting on the amusing turn of events, the seasoned reporter found herself in a triumphant position as she reminisced about the global response to the viral video showing her appearing somewhat displeased while ringing the bell upon boarding the New Shepard spacecraft before her groundbreaking space voyage on April 14. Upon her return to CBS Mornings the following day, co-host Nate Burleson shared some of the most memorable tweets that accompanied the footage depicting Gayle’s anxious expression.

If I forward this to you, it implies I’ll take action, yet I don’t feel enthusiastic about it,” Nate read out during the April 15 broadcast, causing Gayle to chuckle in agreement. Another tweet followed that said, “Gayle King embodies how we all feel on a Monday.

Confirming the internet was right about her reaction, Gayle quipped, “That’s called fear, Nate.”

In contrast to my fellow crew members, extraordinary women like Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, scientist and activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, I found myself responding differently in that situation. However, each of these amazing individuals brings unique perspectives and strengths to the table, making our collective journey even more inspiring.

The 70-year-old admitted, “I didn’t know I appeared that stern,” but added, “It’s hard to miss when compared to everyone else who seems cheerful and lively. Frankly, I was just focusing on finding my seat and obeying instructions, though I must admit, I was also a bit nervous.

The first all-female crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight in 1963 embarked on a journey to space, traveling a distance of approximately 62 miles above the Earth, which is known as the Kármán line – the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. This historic mission lasted for about 10 minutes and 11 seconds.

Upon a secure shore return, Gayle affectionately touched the earth before elaborating on her expressions and confessing that she wouldn’t let fear hinder her from experiencing that legendary instant.

She had made up her mind from the start that she would go through with it. However, we were warned that if we changed our minds, we had to do so before 2 minutes and 30 seconds, saying “I’m not going to fly.” During an interview on Oprah Daily (April 14), she admitted that getting on board was a bit nerve-wracking. This is reflected in the memes that depict her feeling anxious.

Meanwhile, Gayle chuckled over the memes but earnestly asked the online community to take a look at the photos showing her rejoicing upon her triumphant return from the successful journey.

She pointed to the image as she stepped out of the capsule, “This is the important one! I’m overjoyed to be back on Earth. ‘Welcome home’ now holds a whole new significance.

For more about Gayle’s trip to space with Blue Origin, keep reading…

 

Established in 2000 by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin is a private space exploration firm based in Kent, Washington. The company’s mission, as stated on their website, is to utilize space resources for Earth’s benefit and expand human presence in space through improved transportation and the establishment of habitable destinations in low Earth orbit.

Blue Origin aims to achieve these objectives by developing reusable rockets and engines, thereby lowering the cost of space travel, making it more affordable for civilians, and promoting sustainability. During a 2016 Pathfinder Awards talk, Bezos explained their vision as “millions of people living and working in space.” Their strategy focuses on reducing the expense of space travel by emphasizing reusability.

While Blue Origin doesn’t publish prices for booking a flight on their website, they do require a deposit of $150,000.

Named after astronaut Alan Shepard, who made history as the first American in space in 1961, New Shepard is a “completely reusable, suborbital rocket system designed for human travel” according to Blue Origin. This spacecraft can accommodate six individuals within its pressurized crew capsule, but unlike traditional vehicles, it operates autonomously without pilots.

New Shepard made its debut in 2015 as part of a testing program consisting of 16 successful flights, which were wrapped up in 2021. In July of that year, Bezos, his brother Mark, and an auction winner who paid an impressive $28 million took their first ride on New Shepard. Notable travelers such as William Shatner and Michael Strahan also boarded the vehicle later in the same year (on separate missions).

The upcoming flight will be New Shepard’s 31st mission, designated NS-31, and its 11th human flight.

The New Shepard’s NS-31 mission is set to take off from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One, nestled among the Guadalupe Mountain range in West Texas desert, on April 14th. According to their website, the launch window will open at 8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time.

According to Blue Origin’s website, their New Shepard astronauts accelerate towards space at a speed over three times faster than sound. They surpass the Kármán line, the internationally acknowledged boundary of space located approximately 62 miles (or 100 km) above Earth. Once they reach this height, they release their seatbelts to experience weightlessness and marvel at our planet. The journey ends with a smooth descent using parachutes. The whole trip is estimated to last around 11 minutes.

 

The team for mission NS-31 comprises singer Katy Perry, CBS Mornings host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, STEMBoard founder Aisha Bowe (who was once a NASA rocket scientist), bioastronautics researcher and activist Amanda Nguyen, and former TV anchor Lauren Sánchez. This spaceflight crew is significant as it marks the first all-female team to venture into space since 1963, when Valentina Tereshkova from the Soviet Union embarked on a solo mission and became the first woman in space.

Amanda Nguyen is making headlines as the first Vietnamese woman to travel to space, while Aisha Bowe is set to become the first person of Bahamian descent to explore areas rarely visited by others.

Each team member has their unique motivations for joining this mission. For instance, Perry wishes to inspire her daughter Daisy, shared with fiancé Orlando Bloom, by demonstrating that anyone, regardless of background, ethnicity, economic status, or education level, can achieve their dreams. King, who admitted to feelings of apprehension, aims to encourage others to venture beyond their comfort zones. King also mentioned that her action would inspire those who were previously hesitant but now eagerly look forward to the adventure. Lastly, Nguyen sees this opportunity as a chance to realize a long-deferred dream. She shared that she worked at NASA and studied astrophysics at Harvard and MIT, but life’s challenges diverted her from her path in STEM. As a sexual assault survivor, she fought for her rights and passed the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights in Congress and the United Nations. Now, after a decade, she is ready to honor the person she was before the trauma by participating in this mission.

As reported by Good Morning America, each team member is scheduled to travel to the launch site ahead of the mission, where they’ll undergo training. This training encompasses various aspects such as getting tailored for their flight suits, familiarizing themselves with the capsule, mastering communication with ground control, and reviewing safety procedures.

While the team has been preparing for the mission collectively, some crew members, like Bowe and Flynn, have taken additional personal preparations prior to launch. For instance, Bowe mentioned that he’s intensified his training for the past year, completed a NASTAR simulation, and even booked a fighter jet flight. He’s eagerly anticipating both experiences. Additionally, Flynn has undergone several zero-gravity simulations and described them as modifying a Boeing 747 to perform parabolic flights, causing everyone to float during descent. This is done to acclimate to weightlessness, which she plans to enjoy during the mission. Furthermore, Flynn also mentioned her experience with NASTAR training in Philadelphia, where she experienced up to five Gs of pressure.

Here are a few celebrities and their special items for their space missions:

Nancy Conrad, who is inspired by her astronaut husband Pete Conrad (the third man to walk on the moon), will carry the Apollo 12 flag with her, as it was gifted to her by Mrs. Conrad herself. Additionally, she’ll be taking plant samples from Winston-Salem State University’s Astrobotany Lab and conch chowder as a tribute to The Bahamas.

Similarly, Bowe has chosen to bring along a historic object – the Apollo 12 flag that once flew with her mentor and inspiration, Nancy Conrad’s late husband Pete Conrad. She also plans to take plant samples from Winston-Salem State University’s Astrobotany Lab as well as dehydrated conch chowder for the mission, symbolizing The Bahamas.

Nguyen, on the other hand, has decided to bring along personal mementos that hold significant meaning to her. These include shells from the island her mother is a refugee from and a promise she made to herself after experiencing an assault – “Never ever give up,” which she wrote down and taped to her laptop during her hospital stay and through her fight for her rights. Moreover, Nguyen will bring the pen that former president Barack Obama used to sign the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Act, a Nguyen dynasty coin, and Freetown cotton tree seeds.

Stars have sent heartfelt messages to the crew – with King receiving a farewell video from CBS Mornings featuring Tom Hanks, Megan Rapinoe, Bill Nye, Drew Barrymore, and others. The Charlie’s Angels actress, Drew, wished the team luck and expressed her eagerness to learn more from them upon their return. On the other hand, Olivia Munn has voiced criticism. During an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, she questioned the purpose of the mission, citing concerns about cost and its relevance amidst global issues. Furthermore, Olivia raised concerns about the perception that the mission is merely a promotion for Bezos and Blue Origin. However, King acknowledged these criticisms while emphasizing that the mission transcends individual interests and companies.

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2025-04-15 19:48