US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has offered his perspective on Blue Origin’s latest space flight, which took place on Monday, 14 April, and featured an all-female crew including singer Katy Perry, broadcaster Gayle King, and Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Duffy praised the mission as an “inspiring project” that highlights American innovation. However, he pointed to guidelines from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stating that astronaut status requires participation in activities essential to space flight safety — criteria not met by this crew, he said.
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The trip, which lasted under 11 minutes, saw the New Shepard rocket reach the edge of space before returning to Earth. Despite being automated, the mission generated considerable public attention, with Blue Origin celebrating its 11th human space flight and 31st overall under the programme. Yet, some critics — including public figures such as Jessica Chastain and Amy Schumer — questioned the significance of the event, calling it a commercialised spectacle and questioning its value in advancing gender equality.
Crew members, however, strongly rejected the backlash. At a press conference, Gayle King dismissed the criticism as uninformed, while Sánchez defended the mission’s impact on science and representation. “We advanced science today,” she said, adding that the flight provided valuable data and served as a source of inspiration. The participants also highlighted the dedication of Blue Origin staff, who, they said, are deeply invested in the company’s vision and innovation.
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The debate continued online, with some celebrities rallying in support. Actress Jessica Alba reposted political strategist Ana Navarro’s comments, which urged critics to focus their energies on pressing political issues instead of denouncing the flight. Navarro noted, “I’ve seen endless criticism of five women doing their space thing… I wish people would show the same energy denouncing Trump’s abuses of power.” PEOPLE magazine has reached out to both Blue Origin and the Department of Transportation for further comment.
