Overview

• Blue Origin's NS-31 mission marked the first all-female crewed spaceflight since 1963, including figures like Katy Perry, Gayle King, and Lauren Sánchez.
• Critics, including Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Munn, condemned the flight as wasteful and performative, questioning its environmental cost and scientific merit.
• Supporters, such as Gayle King and Aisha Bowe, defended the mission's contributions to waste-management research and its role in inspiring future generations of women.
• Experts in gender studies criticized the mission as tokenistic, arguing that celebrity participants overshadowed the inclusion of trained professionals in the field.
• The debate reflects broader tensions surrounding private space tourism, billionaire influence, and the balance between representation and meaningful progress in STEM.