US Transportation Chief Hails All-Female Blue Origin Crew as 'Brave and Glam,' But Questions Astronaut Title
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the all-female crew that traveled to space this week return to Earth for a second time this week, stating that their achievements did not qualify them to be referred to as astronauts.
"The team that journeyed to space this week aboard a Blue Origin automated mission was both daring and glamorous, yet they can't claim the title of astronaut," Duffy stated on X on Thursday.
“He mentioned they fall short of meeting the FAA astronaut requirements,” adding to the latest guidelines set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration through their Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program.
While the crew might only count as "space voyagers," Duffy did praise America’s commercial space industry as “an inspiring project which showcases American ingenuity and exceptionalism” in his post.
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On Monday, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin He took his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, pop star Katy Perry, "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, and film producer Kerianne Flynn with him for an 11-minute flight.
The U.S. commercial space sector stands as an inspirational initiative that highlights American innovation and excellence. However, the latest Federal Aviation Administration directives for the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program specified that crew members venturing into space must exhibit "significant tasks undertaken during" https://t.co/n2DxpNh4Hy
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) April 17, 2025However, none of the team members were directly involved in steering the New Shepard 31 when it launched from the firm’s facility in Van Horn, Texas, and ascended more than 62 miles past Earth’s atmosphere.
When the defunct Wings Program began in 2004, it awarded the title of astronaut to anyone who traveled beyond Earth’s atmosphere. However, in 2021, the FAA updated the criteria, stipulating that passengers must have "played crucial roles during flights for public safety or significantly enhanced the safety of human space travel" to be granted this esteemed designation.
King stated that the individuals, who were decked out in formfitting jumpsuits and fake eyelashes, was serenaded by Perry singing “What a Wonderful World” aboard the rocket.
“We advanced science today,” Bowe insisted after the flight, adding, “More people are going to be able to do meaningful research with Blue Origin because we collected data.”
Even other famous people criticized the trip as being choreographed media stunt .
Model Emily Ratajkowski described it as "beyond parody," and Jessica Chastain posted an op-ed on X. The Guardian As mentioned, it "highlighted the complete collapse of American feminism."
Monday’s journey marked the first all-female crew since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight in 1963.
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