Oprah Winfrey shed a few tears as she watched her closest friend, Gayle King, go into space on Monday, April 14.

Winfrey, 71, was among those present at the launch site in West Texas, just outside El Paso, when an all-female flight crew lifted off on a Blue Origin rocket for a short excursion to the edge of space.

The renowned television personality was clearly distraught at the ceremony.

King, 70, was accompanied aboard the New Shepard rocket by five other people: Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez (whose fiancé, Jeff Bezos, created Blue Origin), former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, and film director Kerianne Flynn.

Ahead of the launch, Winfrey spoke on the Blue Origin livestream about King’s trip and the counsel she gave her.

“It goes beyond simply going up into space.” I believe the adventure will be an everlasting experience,” Winfrey stated. “Gayle has been there for me on hundreds of occasions that I can’t even remember. But we shall never forget this day.”

King appeared apprehensive before landing, but afterward, she stated she was still “floating.”

“I can’t believe what I saw,” she stated, adding that she was proud of herself for taking such a risk.

“Up there,” high above the Earth, King stated it was “quiet” and “peaceful.”

After this, she joked that she might have her ears pierced since she was always terrified, but now she can “take on anything.”

@cbsnews Oprah tears up as her best friend Gayle King blasts off to space on Blue Origin’s all-women flight. Blue Origin crew members included “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King, pop superstar Katy Perry, journalist and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez, film producer Kerianne Flynn, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen.#space #oprah #spacetok #blueorigin #katyperry ♬ original sound – cbsnews