Gayle King explains her viral facial expression during the Blue Origin flight

Quelle: VIDEOELEPHANT (Glomex)

Gayle King was visibly nervous before takeoff, but the 70-year-old journalist made history as part of Blue Origin's NS-31 mission, the company's first spaceflight conducted exclusively by women. Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn were also on board the company's first all-female spaceflight, which included an 11-minute journey to the edge of space. According to Blue Origin, the flight marked the first all-female crew in over 60 years. Before boarding, the participants rang a ceremonial bell, but King's serious expression sparked reactions on the internet. Fans joked about her tense behavior, with one user writing, 'She's going to stop the rocket before launch.' At a press conference after the flight, King, who described herself as a 'nervous flyer,' admitted she was overwhelmed. 'At that moment, I was so scared that I just wanted to sit in my seat to let the training take effect,' she said. 'The walk there was a bit daunting for me.' 'I went out there and thought, 'Wow, I can do anything... I'm so proud of us. I'm really proud of myself because I never thought I could do this,'' King said. Social media reactions to King's nerves ranged from playful teasing to admiration. Some users joked that she might have felt more comfortable with her close friend Oprah Winfrey by her side.