Emily Ratajkowski has spoken out against a recent all-female spaceflight. She criticized it as a display of privilege rather than a step towards progress. “I think we need to discern what real progress looks like,” Ratajkowski said.
Space unlocks a view that shifts your perspective forever.
On April 14, Blue Origin successfully completed its 11th human spaceflight for the New Shepard program. pic.twitter.com/RusR5GdnLX
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 16, 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.
To date, New Shepard has flown 58 people to space. Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Qglt1p1Wc2
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 14, 2025
Saying you care about Mother Earth and then going up in a spaceship funded by a company contributing to environmental degradation is beyond parody.
The flight included six women, including Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. It marked the company’s 11th manned mission. Ratajkowski called the mission emblematic of false progress.
"We're putting the 'ass' in astronauts" — before the launch today, Katy Perry sums up the Blue Origin flight suits. https://t.co/JwGuatskhw
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) April 14, 2025
She noted that seeing women and people of color in exclusive fields does not equal genuine social advancement if the systems remain exploitative.
"The private aerospace industry’s largely male clientele may not wish to bro down forever on Mars. They will desire moms to go to space with them, and fiancées too."
Every sentence of this @amandahess piece is perfect https://t.co/iXpKDYNuHY
— Emma Goldberg (@emmabgo) April 14, 2025
Emblematic of false progress
“Having a man who has become part of the one percent through exploitation taking his fiancée and other women to space for tourism is not progress,” she argued.
“It highlights the disparity and the oligarchic reality we live in.”
She echoed sentiments from another critic, stating, “‘Privilege is not an accomplishment.'” She emphasized that using wealth from exploitation to fund space tourism is far from a laudable achievement. In response, Sánchez and CBS Morning co-anchor Gayle King defended the mission. King suggested critics need a deeper understanding of the mission’s significance.
Sánchez highlighted the dedication of the employees to the project. The debate continues on the value and implications of such high-profile space ventures. It is part of broader conversations on privilege, progress, and environmental sustainability.
