Gayle King’s terrified pre-launch expression has the memes coming in at warp speed

Welcome back to Earth, Gayle King!

On Monday, April 14, the Blue Origin (a company founded by Jeff Bezos) completed its 11th human spaceflight to the Kármán line, a spot 62 miles above the planet separating Earth’s atmosphere and space. The all-female expedition launched Gayle King and Katy Perry to the Kármán line alongside Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.

The ten-minute and eleven-second space trip was livestreamed, and the memes began to spread before the women even returned to earth, particularly a clip of King looking a bit anxious as she rings the bell while walking onto the New Shepard space capsule.

"That's called fear, Nate," King said about her expression on CBS Mornings. "I did not realize that I looked that serious. But it does stand out when you look at everybody else. Cause they're like ringing, their smiling, I was just thinking, 'Let me get into my seat and follow instructions. But I was also afraid."

And you can certainly see those feelings in her expression! It's no wonder the moment took off on the internet. In its honor, here are just a few of our favorite memes.

"Gayle king is all of us on a Monday."

"'Oprah Winfrey appears to have tears in her eyes as her longtime friend journalist Gayle King is launched into space' is a 30 Rock plot."

"me clocking into the job I prayed for."

"Gayle getting out of that rocket capsule."

"Gayle King on the spaceship."

"When you just wanted to be friends with Oprah and now you are getting blasted into space."

"gayle king after 6 minutes in space with katy perry."

"New leaked footage of Gayle King on the spaceship launch."

"If I send you this, just know that I am STRESSED!"

"Men on public transit."

"Don’t ever do nothing like this again, @GayleKing."