As someone who gets nervous boarding commercial flights , I sense you , Gayle .
By now, I’m sure you’ve heard that six women paid abrief visit to spaceyesterday thanks to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace company.
Much hasbeen saidabout the all-female space trip, both good and bad. However, one of the most talked about moments occurred before the rocket ship had even taken off.
The all-female crew consisted of Katy Perry, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, Kerianne Flynn, Lauren Sánchez, and Gayle King, and while boarding the ship, named New Shepard, each woman rang a bell as part of a Blue Origin tradition.
play back : A New Shepard traditionpic.twitter.com/dSexRmoZl7
In thefootage, the women each strut toward the bell and give it a powerful ring, with some even letting out an enthusiastic cheer. As they hyped themselves up for their impending space journey, there were smiles all around — all except for Gayle, who looked frankly miserable.
The look of complete dread on her face quickly sparked a ton ofviral memes. Some said she was giving generalMonday energy(relatable), while others compared her expression to the one you’d make after lining up for a big rollercoaster and then actually seeing the drop close up (also relatable).
And now, with all six passengers safely home from their 10-minute roundtrip toouter space, Gayle has had a chance to check in with the Earthlings and their memes — and explain what was actually going through her mind in that viral moment.
“I was so afraid. I just wanted to get into my seat because I just wanted to let the training kick in,” she said at apost-trip press conferencewith her fellow crew members. “I just wanted to get inside the capsule and sit down. So the process of walking up there was a little daunting for me.”
You know what, Gayle? I’d definitely feel the same if I ever found myself boarding a spaceship, with or without Katy Perry behind me. Fortunately, though, it sounds like she had a great time in the end — and was very glad to return home safely.
Describing what she saw up there, Gayle said: “With all the stuff that you hear about the blackness and the blues — it’s the neon blue, and it’s still, and it’s quiet, and you’re all feeling this experience together. I know I will never forget it.”
“I walked out of there thinking, gosh, I can do anything,” she said. “I’m so proud of us, I really am proud of me, because I never in a gazillion years thought I could do this.”
Well , in effect for you , Gayle . I ’m not sure I ’ll be following in your footsteps anytime soon .
