Gayle King Explains Now-Viral Facial Expression Before Boarding Blue Origin Flight: 'I Was So Afraid'

Gayle King is addressing her recent viral clip that captured her moments before she launched into space.

On Monday (April 14), the 70-year-old CBS broadcaster joined Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn while they travelled to space in the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket.

When the historic all-female crew boarded the capsule, they excitedly rang a bell and smiled at the camera. However, when it was Gayle‘s turn to enter, she looked visibly stressed and despondent.

Gayle later explained the reason behind her meme-worthy facial expressions, chopping it up to nerves.

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“At that moment I was so afraid, I just wanted to get into my seat because I just wanted to let the training kick in. I just wanted to get inside the capsule and sit down. So the process of walking up there was a little daunting for me,” she said at a recent news conference, per People.

She also gave details about what she experienced during her trip.

“I did think that with all the stuff that you hear about the blackness and the blues — it’s the neon blue [up in space], and it’s still and it’s quiet and you’re all feeling this experience together. I know I will never forget it,” she said.

Despite her initial anxiety, Gayle believes the journey was with experience of a lifetime.

“I walked out of there thinking, gosh I can do anything. I’m so proud of us, I really am proud of me. Because I never in a gazillion years thought I could do this,” she said.

If you didn’t see, the crew recently revealed what song Katy sang during the flight.