Celebrities in Space – Why?

One of the best things the 20th century had to offer was space exploration. I find it incredibly lucky today to live in an age where space exploration is even possible – especially as someone who wants to make astronomy my career.

However, I have always felt that going to space needs to have a purpose. What purpose does sending six people into space for only 11 minutes have? I’ll answer that, none!

Blue Origin is a spacecraft company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. On April 14, his company’s rocket took Katy Perry, Gayle King, and four other women went into space – though really it was just the edge of the atmosphere – for 11 minutes.

Some of the women on that spacecraft worked very hard to be there, such as Amanda Nyugen, who actually studied astrophysics and interned at NASA. Others were merely celebrities.

Now, I do not think that space exploration should be limited by only NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) gatekeepers and such, and that no one else should even try. However, why should we celebrate sending a rocket into space act like some amusement park ride that only the wealthy can participate in?
I find many of the values Blue Origin claims to stand for honorable. However, I also find that sending a bunch of people up to space for only 11 minutes does not represent those values at all.

The trip claims to be inspiring for future generations. What exactly was inspiring about that mission? I would rather see six women go into space and DO something – whether it’s going to the moon to find helpful resources, or clean up space junk – anything more than just hanging out for 11 minutes – and staying up for 12 doesn’t count.

The thing is, there were women in that “mission” that absolutely deserved to be there. Nyugen, and Aisha Bowe, an aerospace engineer and entreprenuer, both trained extensively to be a part of that flight, which is admirable work. It’s unfortunate that their success is being clouded by a gaggle of celebrity passengers. Truly, what did Katy Perry do to deserve to go up to space?

In truth, the reason the crew was only up there for 11 minutes was because space travel takes a toll on one’s body. There’s a reason astronauts train for years before traveling. And while Blue Origin is using reusable rockets in an attempt to be environmentally friendly, space travel still puts a sizable strain on the environment. Especially if we are just sending rockets up there for 11 minutes for no reason.

The most infuriating part about all of this is the big “FLY TO SPACE” button on the Blue Origin website. That button single handedly refutes any idea that these missions are for the greater good of science. Jeff Bezos doesn’t care about space exploration, or inspiration, or finding resources for Earth. He cares about putting money in his already full pockets.

Justice Montell