"A** In Astronauts": Katy Perry & Blue Origin’s All Female Crew Face Backlash For Their Reactions After 11 Minute Space Journey
Not everyone was cheering from Earth, though. Social media erupted after Katy Perry jokingly remarked that the women were “putting the a** in astronaut.”
A historic spaceflight took place today as Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket launched with an all-female crew, marking the first time since 1963 that a space mission featured only women on board. The autonomous, pilotless spacecraft lifted off at 9:30 a.m. from a launch site in Texas, soaring just past the Kármán line-the internationally recognized boundary of space, situated about 62 miles above Earth.
In a rare fusion of couture and aerospace, the six-woman crew suited up in custom-designed outfits by Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, the creative force behind both Monse and Oscar de la Renta. The glamorous yet functional suits were specially crafted for the mission at the request of Lauren Sanchez, a broadcast journalist and the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Who was on board?
The trailblasing team included:
Lauren Sanchez - journalist and philanthropist
Katy Perry - global pop sensation
Gayle King - veteran news anchor
Amanda Nguyen - Nobel Peace Prize nominee and space policy advocate
Aisha Bowe - former NASA engineer and aerospace entrepreneur
Kerianne Flynn - investor and close friend of Sanchez
Their 11-minute flight took them briefly into space before they returned safely by parachute, landing in the West Texas desert. Oprah Winfrey was on-site to witness the dramatic landing.
Backlash over the “Glam Squad in Space”
Not everyone was cheering from Earth, though. Social media erupted after Katy Perry jokingly remarked that the women were “putting the a** in astronaut.” Many critics felt the comment, along with emphasis on the mission’s glam squad and beauty prep, undercut the scientific significance of the flight.
Democratic figure Nina Turner weighed in on the cost of the endeavor, saying, “If Jeff Bezos can send Katy Perry into space, he can pay a wealth tax so every American has debt-free healthcare.” Meanwhile, conservative commentator Meghan McCain likened the mission to a “Black Mirror parody,” critiquing the contrast between luxury and scientific pursuit.
Beyond the Kármán Line, Toward a New Era?
The NS-31 mission may have stirred controversy, but it undeniably highlighted the evolving face of space exploration, one that’s more diverse, stylish, and high-profile than ever before. Whether this launch will inspire more women to enter STEM fields or simply become a symbol of excess remains to be seen, but the attention it has garnered is already astronomical.
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