Promoting gender representation is crucial in a progressive society. However, certain approaches come across as an excuse to execute an extravagant publicity stunt, when convincing people that a trip to space is an act of empowerment and an everyday, accessible activity. When one sees celebrities and multi-millionaires suiting up for liftoff, it can unintentionally convey the idea that a woman only makes it to space if she is an activist with the right connections, a pop star or engaged to the person launching the rocket.
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is a private aerospace company that develops reusable rockets and space technology to promote human exploration and travel in space. On April 14, Blue Origin successfully conducted its NS-31 mission, making history as the first spaceflight with an all-female crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963. The power team consisted of six women — Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez — featuring a range of professions from an Aerospace engineer, a pilot and a civil rights activist to a pop singer, a journalist and a filmmaker.
The New Shepard rocket trip lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds, launching from Corn Ranch, Texas. The flight reached an altitude of approximately 106 km, or 66 miles, when it crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space known as the Kármán line.
At first glance, the symbolism behind the trip is powerful and historic. Nguyen became the first Vietnamese American woman in space, and Bowe became the first Bahamian person to complete this milestone. These “firsts” matter for young, diverse girls who may never have imagined themselves in spacesuits. In a world where white male astronauts have dominated space exploration, this women-led crew marked history by doing the unimaginable and sending a hopeful message.
While the symbolic gesture is commendable, what did this short-lived yet astronomically expensive trip truly accomplish? The flight barely lasted long enough for the crew to float in microgravity before returning safely to Earth. Blue Origin decided not to disclose the cost of the flight — a mystery only evoking skepticism about whether the mission’s genuine goal was inspiration or publicity.
Criticism arises when considering the less flashy alternatives to impacting and inspiring young women and girls, such as funding scholarships or donating to STEM programs. As influential as Katy Perry’s Instagram-worthy moment in zero gravity may be, it cannot compare to the impact a long-term investment in actual opportunity would make.
There is no harm in celebrating progress, but true empowerment must be grounded in impact. Little girls with big dreams do not require a space helmet to lift off; they need support, encouragement and accessibility. The most powerful movement is not 66 miles up. It is right here on Earth, where lasting change is built.
