Lauren Sánchez and Gayle King faced backlash after their recent Blue Origin spaceflight. The duo, part of an all-female crew, forcefully defended the mission against critics questioning its relevance, emphasizing the inspiration and hard work involved in the brief journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Blue Origin, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, facilitates suborbital spaceflights. Lauren Sánchez, an Emmy-winning journalist and pilot, is Bezos’s partner and involved in the company. Gayle King is a prominent broadcast journalist. Their participation highlights the intersection of celebrity, media, and the burgeoning space tourism industry, often drawing public debate about resource allocation and purpose.
Following their roughly 11-minute Blue Origin journey, which included four minutes in space, King and Sánchez addressed critiques. King suggested detractors lacked understanding, urging them to investigate the flight’s significance, particularly its impact on young women. She stressed the substantial effort behind the mission’s successful execution and safe return aboard the NS-31 craft, Blue Origin’s 11th human flight.
Sánchez passionately echoed King’s defense, inviting doubters to witness the dedication at Blue Origin firsthand. She highlighted the commitment of thousands of employees involved in the vehicle and mission. The historic flight also featured Katy Perry, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn, marking a unique all-female crew composition.
During the brief space exposure, Perry reportedly serenaded the crew with “What a Wonderful World.” The singer later noted the serendipity of performing that specific song miles above the planet. Sánchez, meanwhile, described the view of Earth from space as profoundly quiet, struggling to find adequate words for the experience after their safe landing Monday morning.
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