Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently clarified the nature of the so-called “astronaut crew” that embarked on an 11-minute jaunt into space this week.
This week, a group of celebrity figures, including Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, and Katy Perry, took what can only be described as a leisurely excursion into the cosmos.
Affectionately dubbing themselves “The Six Taking Up Space,” these space tourists rang a bell before boarding their capsule, mimicking a tradition that has been part of astronaut culture for decades. This act, however, has drawn sharp criticism as it trivializes the experiences of genuine astronauts.
WATCH:
REPLAY: A New Shepard tradition pic.twitter.com/dSexRmoZl7
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
The capsule successfully launched into space.
NS-31 liftoff! pic.twitter.com/NOfQebatsC
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
This brief spaceflight, managed by Blue Origin, lasted a mere 11 minutes, during which Perry and her companions were seen floating weightlessly inside the capsule.
WATCH:
✨ Weightless and limitless. pic.twitter.com/GQgHd0aw7i
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
The capsule made its return, landing smoothly in West Texas:
A smooth landing in West Texas.
Book your flight on New Shepard: https://t.co/RP3Lixyr4Y pic.twitter.com/xPiu9LMtlH
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
“We just completed our 11th human spaceflight and the 31st flight of the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez,” Blue Origin announced on X.
We just completed our 11th human spaceflight and the 31st flight of the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.
To date, New Shepard has flown 58 people to space. Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Qglt1p1Wc2
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
In response, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy felt compelled to set the record straight.
He pointed out that these glamorous figures who ventured into space on an automated flight are not astronauts. “The U.S. commercial space industry is a remarkable testament to American innovation and exceptionalism. However, the FAA’s guidelines under the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program are quite clear: crewmembers traveling into space must have demonstrated activities during flight that are essential to public safety or contribute to human spaceflight safety,” Duffy explained.
“While the crew who flew to space this week on Blue Origin’s automated flight might be brave and glamorous, they cannot rightfully claim the title of astronaut. They do not meet the FAA’s astronaut criteria,” he added.
The U.S. commercial space industry is an inspiring project which showcases American ingenuity and exceptionalism. But the last FAA guidelines under the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program were clear: Crewmembers who travel into space must have “demonstrated activities during… https://t.co/n2DxpNh4Hy
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) April 17, 2025
