Singer Katy Perry recently joined a high-profile, all-women crew on a Blue Origin space mission that was supposed to celebrate female achievement in space exploration. However, the event has taken a controversial turn, as several celebrities took to social media to criticise the mission, not for its purpose but for what they feel was unnecessary spending and poor timing.
The all-female team included some major names: pop star Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sanchez (who is also known as Jeff Bezos’ partner), talk show host Gayle King, Hollywood producer Kerianne Flynn, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and civil rights activist and research scientist Amanda Nguyen. On Monday, the six women made headlines for making history as the first all-female crew to go to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket.
While the achievement was intended to inspire girls and promote women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), not everyone was celebrating.
A Mission That Backfired on Social Media
Just hours after the news broke, social media was buzzing—but not in the way Blue Origin had hoped. Many users, including well-known celebrities, criticised the mission, calling it tone-deaf in the face of ongoing global issues such as poverty, climate change, and inflation.
Actress Olivia Wilde posted a meme that quickly went viral. It showed Katy Perry stepping out of the spacecraft, and the caption read: “Getting off a commercial flight in 2025.” The meme was meant to mock the idea of space tourism becoming a casual luxury while so many people struggle on Earth.
Wilde didn’t stop there. In a comment, she added, “Billion dollars bought some good memes I guess.” This sarcastic remark echoed the sentiment shared by others who felt the mission was a flashy, wasteful display of wealth.
Why People Are Angry
The criticism largely centres around the cost of space travel and how billionaires like Jeff Bezos (founder of Blue Origin and Amazon) are using their money. While Blue Origin hasn’t officially disclosed the total cost of the flight, experts say these missions can cost tens of millions of dollars each.
Many feel that such money could be better spent addressing urgent problems like homelessness, education, healthcare, or climate action.
There’s also growing frustration around the commercialisation of space travel. For critics, space is quickly becoming another playground for the ultra-rich, while the majority of the population deals with economic uncertainty and basic needs.
Supporters Say the Mission Was Empowering
However, not everyone agrees with the backlash. Supporters of the mission argue that the spaceflight was a powerful moment for women and representation in science and tech fields. The mission highlighted women from different backgrounds—entertainers, scientists, activists—all coming together to show that space is for everyone.
Lauren Sanchez, who organised the mission, said in an earlier interview that the idea was to “spotlight the strength, intelligence, and leadership of women everywhere.”
NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, who was part of the crew, said the experience was “life-changing” and hopes it inspires young girls to dream big.
The Bigger Debate: Progress vs Priorities
This incident has opened up a broader conversation. Is space exploration worth the cost when there are still so many problems on Earth? Should private companies be allowed to run space missions for publicity? Or is this the beginning of a new era where innovation, even if expensive, leads to long-term benefits?
Some experts argue that investment in space technology helps in more ways than one. From satellites that monitor climate to advancements in medicine developed through space research, they say the long-term impact can be beneficial.
But critics point out that this kind of innovation should not be accompanied by the neglect of existing human suffering.
Conclusion
What was meant to be a celebratory event quickly turned into a heated debate. Katy Perry and the other women made history—but for many, it also raised serious questions about wealth, purpose, and priorities in today’s world.
As space tourism grows, so will the scrutiny. Whether it’s seen as an inspiration or an insult will depend on how the industry balances progress with compassion.
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