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Blue Origin's All-Female Spaceflight Faces Backlash Over Legitimacy and Spectacle

While crew members defend the mission's historic value, critics question its environmental impact, cost, and astronaut status under FAA criteria.

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Overview

  • Blue Origin's NS-31 mission sent an all-female crew, including Katy Perry and Gayle King, on an 11-minute suborbital journey on April 14, 2025.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the participants do not meet FAA astronaut criteria, intensifying debates on the legitimacy of private spaceflight titles.
  • Katy Perry privately expressed regret over making the landing a public spectacle, particularly her ground-kissing moment, though she described the experience as life-changing.
  • The mission drew sharp criticism from public figures like Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Wilde, who called it wasteful and performative, and prompted trolling from brands like Wendy's.
  • Crew members, including Gayle King, defended the flight's significance, highlighting its role in inspiring women and advancing space research despite the backlash.