Veteran journalist Gayle King is about to reach new heights as she blasts off this spring in Blue Origin’s upcoming spaceflight.
This historic flight, scheduled for this spring, will be the 11th human flight under the company’s New Shepard program.
It was announced on Thursday, February 27, that the “CBS Mornings” co-host would be part of the all-women crew set to embark on Blue Origin’s next mission to the boundary of where space begins.
Joining King on the journey are pop superstar Katy Perry, journalist and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
Together, they will be traveling 62 miles above Earth to the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary where Earth’s atmosphere ends and space begins.
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She admitted on “CBS Mornings” following the announcement, stating that:
“I don’t know how to explain it; I am terrified and excited at the same time.”
The morning show host went on to say that the feeling was just as she felt during the delivery of her baby.
Gayle King thinks of this mission as an opportunity to push beyond her comfort zone.
“I thought I wanted to open myself up to new adventures and step out of my comfort zone,”
Before saying yes, she made sure to check in with her inner circle including her children, Kirby and Will, and her longtime best friend, Oprah Winfrey.
“Once Kirby and Will and Oprah were fine with it, I was fine,” King shared. “I thought Oprah would say no, no.
According to Gayle, Oprah said: ‘I think if you don’t do it, when they all come back and you have the opportunity to do it, you will be kicking yourself.’ She’s right.”
However, despite her initial hesitation, the veteran journalist is embracing the challenge with fear mixed with excitement.
While looking forward to the moment and feeling empowered by the trailblazing women she’ll be flying alongside.
“These women are so bada**,” she said. “They have such amazing life stories.”
