Gayle King, the beloved CBS talk show host, was visibly overcome with emotion as she arrived at the Blue Origin launch site for her highly anticipated space journey.
As she prepared for the life-changing experience, the 70-year-old TV personality seemed overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event.
A Star-Studded All-Female Flight Crew
Joining Gayle on this historic flight is an all-female crew, including notable figures like Lauren Sanchez and pop icon Katy Perry.
The flight, which will take place aboard Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard rocket, is poised to make history as these women take to the skies together.
While Gayle had a moment of vulnerability, shedding tears in the front seat of her car as she approached the launch site, the other crew members were all smiles, ready to embrace the cameras.
Despite her tears, Gayle waved to the fans and press, composed as she prepared for this out-of-this-world experience.
Behind-the-Scenes Nerves
Earlier, a behind-the-scenes video shared by Lauren Sanchez revealed Gayle’s nervousness.
In the clip, which was posted on Instagram by Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Gayle and her fellow crew members visited the New Shepard rocket.
Dressed in matching blue jumpsuits, the group marveled at the vehicle that would soon take them to space.
Though many of the women looked excited and in awe, Gayle appeared worried.
With a nervous smile, she spoke to the spaceship, saying, “We’re counting on you. Bring us back safe. We believe in you.”
The Brief but Thrilling Flight
The flight itself is scheduled to last just 11 minutes.
During this time, the New Shepard capsule will ascend to an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers), crossing the Karman Line, the widely recognized boundary of space.
Once in freefall, the crew will experience a few minutes of weightlessness before the capsule begins its descent back to Earth.
After deploying parachutes, the crew will land safely.
The NS-31 mission will launch from Blue Origin’s Site One, located roughly 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas, at 8:30 AM local time.
The reusable rocket will lift the capsule into space, after which it will detach and return to Earth.
The Diverse Crew and Special Guests
Joining Gayle on this historic mission are several other accomplished women: film producer Kerianne Flynn, activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.
Together, they will make history as they embark on this groundbreaking flight.
Gayle’s Candid Remarks About Jeff Bezos
In the days leading up to the flight, Gayle opened up about her thoughts on Jeff Bezos and some of his controversial decisions.
Speaking with her CBS Mornings colleague, Vlad Duthiers, Gayle addressed critics who might see the flight as a marketing stunt for Jeff and his company.
She acknowledged some concerns, saying, “There have been some questions and some decisions that he has made that I’ve actually gone, ‘Huh?’
“But I think in this particular case, this is so much bigger than one man and one company.”
Gayle emphasized that while she may not agree with all of Jeff’s actions, she believes this mission transcends those concerns: “You can do this on the one hand, and that on the other hand.
“Both things can be true.”
Gayle’s Comfort Items for Space
As she prepared for her journey, Gayle revealed that she would be bringing along something personal for comfort.
She shared with DailyMail.com that she had asked her daughter and grandson to pick out their favorite stuffed animals to accompany her on the flight.
“What do you put in a bag to go to space?” Gayle mused.
“So, I asked my daughter and my favorite grandson, ‘Could you pick out your favorite stuffed animals for me to take into space and keep me company?'”
Gayle’s daughter, Kirby Bumpus, welcomed her son, Luca Lynn Miller, in 2021, making Gayle a grandmother for the first time.
Kirby became a mother again in May 2023 when she gave birth to a daughter named Grayson.
Confronting Fear and Excitement
In an interview with ELLE magazine, Gayle shared her mixed feelings about the flight.
“I had a lot of trepidation – I still do,” she admitted.
“But I also know it’s very interesting to be terrified and excited at the same time.”
She compared the experience to the nervousness she felt before childbirth, acknowledging the discomfort but also recognizing the thrill of stepping into the unknown.
“It’s also stepping out of your comfort zone. What’s next?” Gayle reflected, capturing the essence of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.