Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket successfully launched its first all-female flight, carrying six prominent women, including singer Katy Perry and TV personality Gayle King. After recently landing a successful visionary inclusive mission, our world has entered this new frontier, witnessing all-time firsts since the last all-female flight in 1963. The flight then reached a maximum altitude of 106.9 kilometers (350,000 feet). A little over 11 minutes later, it completed a successful re-entry, landing safely back on Earth. The mission’s goal was to inspire women and encourage the burgeoning commercial space tourism industry.
A collective, colorful continent of women sailed on this mission. It featured former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who is the fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. High-profile attendees including Oprah Winfrey, Kris Jenner and Khloé Kardashian celebrated the rocket’s return to Earth. Their presence reminded everyone just how star-studded the event was turning out to be.
Katy Perry performed “What A Wonderful World” during the one of a kind flight. She went on to describe the experience as “second only to being a mom.” She discussed what the trip has meant to her on an emotional level, and what this groundbreaking mission means for the future.
“This experience is second to being a mom. That’s why it was hard for me to go because that’s all my love right there, and I have to surrender and trust that the universe is going to take care of me and protect me and also my family and daughter.” – Katy Perry
Despite its positive and celebratory tone, the mission drew criticism from other A-listers, like model and actress Emily Ratajkowski. Ratajkowski tweeted that the trip was “disgusting.” She called into account its value, calling out the clear hypocrisy of Blue Origin’s motto, “For the benefit of Earth” and its detrimental effect on our planet.
The New Shepard rocket is designed for hundreds of flights, proving its reusability at a time when runs of expensive single-use hardware are unnecessary. At bottom, critics fear the mission’s perceived wastefulness and self-indulgence. Ratajkowski’s comments clearly talked to the angst that many were experiencing. They viewed the event as a lavish showcase rather than a serious signal of commitment to sustainability.
“That’s end time shit. Like, this is beyond parody. That you care about Mother Earth and it’s about Mother Earth, and you’re going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s singlehandedly destroying the planet?” – (no attribution)
The New Shepard rocket is at the heart of Blue Origin’s dreams. It intends to establish a dynamic and commercial space tourism industry. The cost estimates for this mission have not been made public. For one, it is apparent that Bezos is the primary funder, and this might be a major shift in luxury travel alternatives.
Perry conceded the criticisms but offered an energetic defense of the appropriations energy. She is fiercely committed to inspiring future generations of women through these missions. She stressed her hope that opportunities such as these instill a deeper love for our planet.
“I think that it’s not about me or singing my songs, it’s about a collective energy. It’s about us (and) making space for future women. It’s about this wonderful world we see right out there and appreciating it.” – Katy Perry
The dynamic of inspiration vs. criticism continues to play out in space exploration today. This tension is made worse when we add in the impact of celebrity culture. While other companies like SpaceX get more headlines, Blue Origin is making big moves on the commercial space front. What remains to be seen is how these organizations’ missions change in the face of public attention and growing environmental expectations.
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