Does going to a zoo make me a zoologist? Zoologists spend years studying and researching in order to earn that title. Giving it out so easily would undermine them. So why is Katy Perry suddenly an astronaut after spending 11 minutes in space? I’ve spent more time waiting for the Mission to Space ride at Disney World than she has orbiting the earth.
Perry and her public relations team decided that going to space was the best way to promote her terrible album instead of doing a brand collaboration, buying a billboard or literally anything else. She, along with five other women, were sent into space by Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin. The historic all-female crew included a pop star, two journalists, an ex-rocket scientist, a chief executive officer and a bioastronautics researcher. This obviously formed the most qualified and deserving flight crew in history.
Not only did the trip not accomplish any scientific research, Katy and her crew emitted 50 tons of CO2, more than most people would emit in their entire lifetime. Ironically, after seeing the earth from orbit, Perry declared that we should “protect our mother.” Maybe we should start with reducing carbon emissions? Just a thought, though.
The crew hailed their excursion as a win for feminism. And what screams feminism like a group of wealthy and privileged women going to space while thousands of poor and disadvantaged women are going to suffer the consequences from the damage to the environment? Every woman should celebrate Perry and her crew for doing the groundbreaking work for the feminist movement.
This all could’ve been avoided if they asked any normal person for their opinion on the flight. If Jeff Bezos or any other billionaires are delusional enough to send another group of celebrities up there, I’m offering an alternative: he should use money planned for space travel and give it to his employees instead. But I understand. Going to space with your out-of-touch friends is so much more important.
We should start telling people no, especially celebrities. Or we could give all the celebrities the chance to go to space and just leave them there. I think we would be better off anyway.
