Additional Coverage:
- Petition calls on Blue Origin passenger celebrities to donate to crucial programs after backlash (themirror.com)
Pop Star Katy Perry’s Space Trip Sparks Outrage
The recent Blue Origin flight carrying celebrities like Katy Perry and Gayle King has generated significant controversy, with a petition calling on the passengers to donate to scientific programs facing budget cuts.
The petition, which has garnered thousands of signatures, highlights the juxtaposition of this expensive space tourism with the Trump administration’s defunding of key science initiatives, including diversity and equity programs at NASA. The petition creators suggest that the celebrity passengers, including Perry, who has an estimated net worth of $400 million, leverage their wealth and influence to support these programs. They point to the removal of NASA publications celebrating women in space as a particular area of concern.
While Perry stated her belief that the trip benefited Earth, critics online have questioned the environmental impact of the flight, estimated to produce 75 tonnes of carbon emissions per passenger. The cost of a seat on Blue Origin is estimated to be between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Public outcry continues to grow, fueled by concerns about the Trump administration’s broader budget cuts affecting programs like Social Security and Medicare. Online commentators expressed frustration, contrasting the “wasteful celebrity joyride” with the financial struggles faced by many and the funding cuts impacting scientific research. One commenter questioned the celebration of a brief celebrity space flight while experienced female scientists face funding challenges.