The Backlash Over the All-Female Blue Origin Flight

Last week, six female passengers traveled to space for a sub-orbital mission aboard Blue Origin’s new Shepard rocket. Among the six passengers was pop superstar Katy Perry and broadcast journalist Gayle King. The trip received a lot of criticism from the public as well as celebrities pointing to how it privatizes space travel and the alleged environmental impact, with actress Olivia Munn saying, “Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride?". Gayle King took offense to the backlash calling it sexist to use to the term “ride,” a term she says would never be used to describe an all-male trip. We discuss the mission, the criticism, and space tourism in general. Would you travel into space like that if given the chance?