On April 15, 2025, Blue Origin’s 11 minute (round trip) mission soared about 60 miles above Earth. Aboard the New Shepard rocket, an all-female crew lifted off from Van Horn, Texas, destined for the edge of space.
The capsule included Gayle King, Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn, making history as the first all-women crew to reach space since Valentina Tereshkova‘s legendary solo mission in 1963.
This brief but monumental journey took the crew past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, where they floated weightlessly for a few minutes and snapped photos. This recent venture into space hasn’t exactly boosted the images of these lady “space travelers”. In fact, it’s sparked criticism as out of touch. Despite Blue Origin’s slogan, “For the benefit of Earth,” critics argue the mission felt more like an expensive publicity stunt than a scientific endeavor. Many saw it less as a symbol of female empowerment and more as a symbol of privilege, with Perry herself calling it a chance to “put the ‘ass’ in astronaut.” CRINGE!
The Guardian ran an eyebrow-raising headline: “So Katy Perry went to space. Wasn’t there anyone else we could have sent?” Meanwhile, NPR ranked 20 musicians more deserving of a ticket to space than Perry and include our very own Nick Rhodes. They wrote: “The founding keyboardist of Duran Duran is a space obsessive whose otherworldly musical project ‘Astronomia,’ with Wendy Bevan, spans four separate albums.”
Duranies know: this isn’t the first time music and space collided.
Before Bezos – there was Duran Duran and NASA
Back in 2019, long before this sleek Blue Origin capsule captured headlines, Duran Duran partnered with NASA for an unforgettable night under the stars — literally.
The band was invited to perform at Kennedy Space Center to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11’s mission to the Moon. Their live show at the Rocket Garden merged music, memory, and marvels of technology. They teamed up with Studio Drift to open their show with a stunning display of Intel® Shooting Star™ drones, choreographed to their performance of “The Universe Alone” alongside a 40-piece choir and 16-piece orchestra. With “Planet Earth,” “Reach Up for the Sunrise,” and “Astronaut” echoing across the launch site, Duran Duran transformed a moment of remembrance into a visionary celebration of the future.
“The indelible impact of the Moon landing has been one of Duran Duran’s main sources of inspiration. In the last half-century there have been very few events that have captured the world’s attention and united everyone in such a positive way,” said Nick Rhodes. “We are truly thrilled and honored to be a part of the 50-year celebration of the Apollo 11 mission, the performance tonight, at KSCVC where the launch took place.”
“We’ve always looked to the stars for inspiration,” said Simon Le Bon. “Performing at Kennedy Space Center felt like coming full circle.”
Duran Duran Kicked Off Their Career With Planet Earth
The collaboration was a shared love letter to science, exploration, and the wonder that fuels both musicians and astronauts. NASA and Duran Duran might seem like an unexpected match, but for fans, it made perfect sense. After all, this is the band that kicked off their career with the song Planet Earth. Is there Anyone Out There? Yes. It’s millions of Duranies who’ve always known that, from small steps to giant leaps, this band has always been about exploring new frontiers in music, video, style, and art.
“I was completely enchanted by what they had created. I’d never seen technology like this be used in such an emotional way.”
– Nick Rhodes.
Astronomia
In 2021, the Duran Duran keyboardist teamed up with singer, musician, and multimedia artist Wendy Bevan for Astronomia, a four-album instrumental series that sonically mirrors the majesty and mystery of space. Inspired by both astronomy and mythology, the project weaves electronic and electro-acoustic soundscapes into something at once celestial and cinematic. Each installment—The Fall of Saturn, The Rise of Lyra, Heaven and Hell in the Serpent’s Tail, and The Eclipses of Algol—was released on a solstice or equinox, underscoring the duo’s connection to natural and cosmic cycles. The final volume arrived on the Winter Solstice, December 21.
Nick Rhodes and the Sound of the Cosmos
While Blue Origin and NASA have brought the universe closer to Earth, Nick Rhodes has spent the past few years reaching for the stars in his own way
— through sound.
Originally introduced by a mutual friend, Rhodes and Bevan bonded over their shared artistic obsessions. Rhodes even went on to produce her solo album, Alone with the Unknown. But when the pandemic delayed its release, the two began experimenting with atmospheric instrumentals. Working apart—Bevan in sun-drenched L.A., Rhodes in his moody London studio—they exchanged ideas remotely and let intuition guide them. The result? One of the most ambitious musical undertakings of the pandemic era: 52 original compositions across four albums, a sweeping, immersive ode to the cosmos.
As Rhodes explained on the band’s website, “Through our sonic tapestries we explore limitless dimensions and transitions in the universe.”
Look Now Look All Around
As six women selfied into suborbital space, the moment felt more like a press tour than a milestone. But for Duran Duran fans, it was a quiet contrast — a reminder that the band’s cosmic curiosity runs deeper. Because bold steps, whether taken in moon boots or platform boots, have always belonged to those who dare to dream bigger. From NASA’s launchpads to the far edges of imagination, you really are looking at Planet Earth.
And Duran Duran, ever ahead of the curve, will always be part of that orbit.