Fast food chain Wendy’s has not apologized for trolling pop singer Katy Perry for her space ride via its official X account, but it did say it “has a ton of respect for&#8221; her.
The six women who made up the all-female flight crew have been getting mixed reviews ever since they boarded Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission on Monday for an 11-minute ride. Perry, TV personality Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez were among the women who took the flight, which they and many media outlets insisted was of historic significance. 
But there’s also been pushback, with members of the public and some celebrities saying the space ride was nothing more than regular space tourism with a female-heavy roster. Wendy’s social media account got in on the jokes.
The X account Pop Crave announced on Monday, “Katy Perry has returned from space,” prompting the people running Wendy’s social media accounts to reply, “Can we send her back.”
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Can we send her back
&mdash; Wendy’s (@Wendys) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wendys/status/1911939109871923213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Another post on Monday shared from the Wendy’s account said, “When we said women in stem this isn’t what we meant.”
The posts got a lot of laughs from followers and some criticism. One source who is “close to the situation” told <a href="https://people.com/katy-perry-deserves-apology-from-wendys-blue-origin-comments-exclusive-source-11717191?taid=68013ed1cbec1800016b41dd&amp;utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&amp;utm_content=new&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com">People</a> that Wendy’s should issue Perry an apology. “This wasn&#8217;t harmless banter, this was a billion-dollar brand using its platform to publicly demean a woman,” the source told the outlet, adding that &#8220;when billion-dollar brands join in, it’s irresponsible.&#8221;
Wendy’s responded, but not with an apology. People received a statement from the popular fast food brand saying: &#8220;We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy’s has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent.”
Perry hasn’t addressed any of the criticism publicly, but King responded to the haters, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gayle-king-complains-its-disrespectful-sexist-to-call-8-minute-space-ride-a-ride">claiming</a> it was sexist and “disrespectful” to criticize them. 
“So I wish people would do more due diligence. And then my question is, have y’all been to space? Go to space or go to Blue Origin and see what they do … and then come back and say, ‘This is a terrible thing,&#8217;” King said in part. 
She continued, “You never see a man, a male astronaut, who’s going up in space and they say, ‘Oh, he took a ride.’ … It’s always referred to as a flight or a journey, so I feel that’s a little disrespectful to what the mission was and the work that Blue Origin does.”

Katy Perry

Wendy’s Doesn’t Apologize For Trolling Katy Perry’s Space Ride, But Has ‘A Ton Of Respect’ For Her

Wendy's Doesn't Apologize For Trolling Katy Perry Space Ride, But Says They 'Respect' Her

Blue Origin

Business

Celebrities

Space

Twitter

Wendy's

Model Emily Ratajkowski is still bashing the all-female space crew that included celebrities who have been dominating the headlines after their 11-minute mission to space.
Pop singer Katy Perry, CBS anchor Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez were three of the women who flew to the edge of space on the Amazon founder’s Blue Origin spacecraft. Their flight is being touted as historic and important by many major outlets, but critics claim it’s nothing but average space tourism, which has been going on for decades. 
Ratajkowski made her feelings known during a TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@emrata/video/7493201498541772074">posted</a> Monday. 
“That space mission this morning, that’s end-time sh**. Like, this is beyond parody,” she said. “Saying that you care about Mother Earth, and it’s about Mother Earth, and going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company that’s single-handedly destroying the planet? Look at the state of the world, and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space, and for what? For what, what was the marketing there? And then to try to make it like … I’m disgusted. Literally, I’m disgusted.”
The 33-year-old celebrity <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@emrata/video/7493531647028071726">followed up</a> with another social media video on Tuesday. “I think that this space mission is confusing to people because seeing women and people of color in spaces like science and politics that have not previously included them feels and looks like, really looks like — optically looks like — progress,” Ratajkowski, who identifies herself as a feminist, said. 
She continued, “But the truth is that having a man who has gained his power and become a part of the one percent purely through exploitation and greed deciding to take his fiancée and a few other famous women to space for space tourism is not progress.”
“It just speaks to the fact that we are absolutely living in an oligarchy, where there is a very small group of people who are interested in going to space for the sake of getting a new lease on life while the rest of the population — most people on Planet Earth — are worried about paying rent, or, you know, having dinner for their kids,” the model concluded.
She’s not the only one to question why so many are making such a big deal about the Blue Origin flight. Actress Olivia Munn<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-origin-all-female-crew-including-katy-perry-launches-into-space"> said as much</a> on an episode of “Today with Jenna and Friends.”
“What’s the point? Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it’s a bit gluttonous,” Munn said. “Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they gonna do up there that has made it better for us down here?”

Emily Ratajkowski

Model Emily Ratajkowski Mocks All-Female Space Ride: ‘Not An Accomplishment’

Model Emily Ratajkowski Mocks All-Female Space Ride: 'Not An Accomplishment'

Entertainment

Jeff Bezos

U.S.

CBS News host Gayle King took issue with those who referred to her eight minutes in space — with an all-female, celebrity-heavy &#8220;crew&#8221; — as &#8220;a ride,&#8221; arguing that it was sexist and &#8220;disrespectful&#8221; to do so.
King responded to critics in an interview with Extra after her Blue Origin space flight — alongside performer Katy Perry and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos&#8217; fiancée Lauren Sanchez, among others — returned to earth, also hitting back at those who complained about the expense of such a &#8220;frivolous&#8221; trip.
WATCH:
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Gayle King responds to criticism of her Blue Origin space flight, says people calling it &quot;a ride&quot; is &quot;disrespectful.&quot; Full interview 🔗: <a href="https://t.co/VIwjEycANG">https://t.co/VIwjEycANG</a> <a href="https://t.co/c1Bn6Jntaq">pic.twitter.com/c1Bn6Jntaq</a>
&mdash; ExtraTV (@extratv) <a href="https://twitter.com/extratv/status/1912184840075825302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I think it’s good that we can really address it,&#8221; King said. &#8220;Because I was one of those people before I went on this flight and before I became educated on space. ‘Why are we spending so much money on space when there’s so much to do on Earth?’ I was one of those people.&#8221;
King said that part of what had changed her mind was learning that Blue Origin intended &#8220;to figure out a way to harness the waste here and figure out a way to put it in space to make the planet Earth a better place.&#8221;
&#8220;So I wish people would do more due diligence. And then my question is, have y’all been to space? Go to space or go to Blue Origin and see what they do &#8230; and then come back and say, ‘This is a terrible thing,'&#8221; King continued, arguing that if there were more demand for commercial space flights, the cost of such a flight would eventually come down.
King went on to complain about the underlying sexist tone of those referring to the eight-minute space flight as &#8220;a ride,&#8221; saying, &#8220;You never see a man, a male astronaut, who’s going up in space and they say, ‘Oh, he took a ride.’ … It’s always referred to as a flight or a journey, so I feel that’s a little disrespectful to what the mission was and the work that Blue Origin does.&#8221;
The Daily Wire&#8217;s Matt Walsh hit back at King, mocking her for referring to herself as &#8220;an astronaut&#8221; and saying, &#8220;Gayle King thinks she’s an astronaut because she took a 10 minute ride on her friend’s boyfriend’s rocket ship.&#8221;
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Gayle King thinks she’s an astronaut because she took a 10 minute ride on her friend’s boyfriend’s rocket ship 
 <a href="https://t.co/cmEDkvIei0">pic.twitter.com/cmEDkvIei0</a>
&mdash; Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1912493100901052874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Astronauts were stranded in space for 9 months. When they were rescued, they just said thank you and went back to work,&#8221; conservative pundit Stephen L. Miller pointed out.
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Astronauts were stranded in space for 9 months. When they were rescued, they just said thank you and went back to work. <a href="https://t.co/B6JhoSRDwC">https://t.co/B6JhoSRDwC</a>
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1912182688775389198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Katy Perry was also mocked for overblowing the importance of the trip. &#8220;Katy Perry out here acting like she was just stranded in space by Joe Biden for nearly a year,&#8221; one commented after video circulated of the pop star kissing the ground.
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Katy Perry out here acting like she was just stranded in space by Joe Biden for nearly a year 
 <a href="https://t.co/28DAPJhjCN">pic.twitter.com/28DAPJhjCN</a>
&mdash; Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewHLive/status/1911826529774158113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Blue Origin Launches All-Female Crew Into Space For Brief Flight

Gayle King Complains It’s ‘Disrespectful,’ Sexist To Call 8-Minute Space Ride ‘A Ride’

Gayle King Complains It's 'Disrespectful,' Sexist To Call 8-Minute Space Ride 'A Ride'

Gayle King

Outer Space

Sexism

Jeff Bezos&#8217; Blue Origin successfully launched its sixth human mission on Thursday, sending six people into suborbital space.
The NS-22 New Shepard flight included a crew of Coby Cotton, Mário Ferreira, Vanessa O’Brien, Clint Kelly III, Sara Sabry, and Steve Young.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Replay: New Shepard Mission NS-22 Webcast" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F-UgZLcxV24?start=2562&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Cotton is the co-founder of the popular YouTube channel Dude Perfect. Also flying with the crew was Ferreira, Portugal&#8217;s first person in space, and Sabry, the first Egyptian and Egyptian woman in space.
The mission&#8217;s elapsed time was 10 minutes and 20 seconds. According to Blue Origin&#8217;s <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1555202634206052354">Twitter</a> account, the max ascent velocity was 2,239 mph (3,603 km/h).
The booster reached 347,219 feet after launching at 8:56 a.m. CT from West Texas. The flight marked the eighth consecutive booster landing for the vehicle.
According to <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/new-shepard/">Blue Origin</a>, the New Shepard was named after Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American to go to space. The reusable rocket system is designed to seat six passengers for a fully autonomous trip.
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The crew of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS22</a> atop the launch tower as they complete final preparations for their journey to space. Learn more about the people aboard today’s mission: <a href="https://t.co/Oh67VfBLGJ">pic.twitter.com/Oh67VfBLGJ</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1555178097254666243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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O’Brien became the first woman to complete the Explorers’ Extreme Trifecta, a Guinness World Record of reaching the world’s extremes on land, sea, and air. She has already reached the highest peak of Mt. Everest and has traveled to the Challenger Deep, the lowest reachable point in the ocean.
According to Blue Origin, O&#8217;Brien carried the U.N. women&#8217;s flag to space.
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British-American explorer <a href="https://twitter.com/vobonline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vobonline</a> will become the first woman to reach the world’s highest (Mt. Everest) and lowest (Challenger Deep) points—and reach space. She’s carrying the UN Women’s flag to space. <a href="https://t.co/eSmdAof90F">pic.twitter.com/eSmdAof90F</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1555178136081350657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Young is the former CEO of Young’s Communications, the largest telecommunications contractor in Florida. He is also a committee member of the Space Coast Coastal Conservation Group.
Kelly has long been a leader in the field of technology. He has served with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he was involved in the cutting edge of driverless car innovations.
The successful launch came just over one year since Blue Origin made its first human flight to space.
&#8220;One year ago today, we took the first step in advancing our vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Thank you to the 25 pioneers who’ve flown on New Shepard since our first human flight. This is only the beginning,&#8221; Blue Origin shared in a tweet last month.
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One year ago today, we took the first step in advancing our vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Thank you to the 25 pioneers who’ve flown on New Shepard since our first human flight. This is only the beginning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FortheBenefitofEarth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FortheBenefitofEarth</a> <a href="https://t.co/64JylnFxrR">pic.twitter.com/64JylnFxrR</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1549756167316013058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Past Blue Origin flights have included actor William Shatner. The NS-22 launch marked a total of 32 people that Blue Origin has taken to the edge of space.
In December, “Good Morning America” host and former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michael-strahan-heads-to-space-on-blue-origin-rocket-brings-super-bowl-ring-and-retired-giants-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flew</a> aboard a Blue Origin flight. Strahan reportedly <a href="https://abc7ny.com/sports/new-york-giants-legend-tv-personality-michael-strahan-flies-in-spa/11325392/">brought</a> his Super Bowl ring and retired Giants jersey aboard the vessel.
Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin and Amazon, flew aboard the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billionaire-bezos-blasts-into-space-soars-to-66-5-miles-high-lands-safely-back-on-earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first flight</a> in July 2021. He traveled into space with three other passengers. They included his 82-year-old brother Mark and an 18-year-old physics student from the Netherlands.

WATCH: Blue Origin Launches Sixth Human Flight, Sends Six Passengers To Suborbital Space

Blue Origin Conducts Sixth Human Flight, Sends Six Passengers To Suborbital Space

Dude Perfect co-founder Coby Cotton has been announced as one of the six crew members who will fly on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/blue-origin">Blue Origin&#8217;s</a> next mission to space.
Two other passengers will also include the first Portuguese and Egyptian citizens to experience space travel.
&#8220;This mission will be the sixth human flight for the New Shepard program, the third flight this year, and the 22nd in its history. The flight date will be announced soon,&#8221; Blue Origin announced on Friday.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewShepard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewShepard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS22</a> will include <a href="https://twitter.com/DudePerfect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DudePerfect</a>’s <a href="https://twitter.com/CobyCotton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CobyCotton</a>, Mário Ferreira, <a href="https://twitter.com/vobonline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VOBOnline</a>, Clint Kelly III, Sara Sabry, and Steve Young. Read more 🚀: <a href="https://t.co/VVVhGmqJo9">https://t.co/VVVhGmqJo9</a> <a href="https://t.co/Pd5yUQYb0H">pic.twitter.com/Pd5yUQYb0H</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1550556934834532352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The five additional members of the team include Portuguese entrepreneur Mário Ferreira, British-American mountaineer Vanessa O’Brien, technology leader Clint Kelly III, Egyptian engineer Sara Sabry, and telecommunications executive Steve Young.
Cotton is one of the five co-founders of the popular <a href="https://dudeperfect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dude Perfect</a> YouTube channel, noted as the most-subscribed sports channel on the platform with more than 57 million followers. The trick-shot company was founded in 2009 and has led to a growing lineup of videos, event appearances, and merchandise.
Cotton&#8217;s trip with Blue Origin is sponsored by <a href="https://moondao.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MoonDAO</a>, an organization focused on decentralizing access to space exploration. MoonDAO&#8217;s members voted for Cotton to represent the group as its first sponsored space traveler.
&#8220;We hope that @DudePerfect co-founder @CobyCotton will be a huge inspiration to the next generation,&#8221; MoonDAO stated on Twitter. &#8220;MoonDAO voted with $MOONEY to make this happen, one small step for DAO, one huge leap for DAO-kind.&#8221;
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We hope that <a href="https://twitter.com/DudePerfect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DudePerfect</a> co-founder <a href="https://twitter.com/CobyCotton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CobyCotton</a> will be a huge inspiration to the next generation 🧑‍🚀🚀
MoonDAO voted with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MOONEY&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MOONEY</a> to make this happen, one small step for DAO, one huge leap for DAO-kind 🪐 <a href="https://t.co/j3h1GWfS4T">pic.twitter.com/j3h1GWfS4T</a>
&mdash; MoonDAO 🌜🌐🌛 (@OfficialMoonDAO) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialMoonDAO/status/1550678074747891713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The resumes of the other passengers on Blue Origin&#8217;s upcoming flight also include unique backgrounds.
O&#8217;Brien will become the first woman to complete the Explorers&#8217; Extreme Trifecta, a Guinness World Record that consists of reaching the world&#8217;s extremes on land, sea, and air. She has already reached the highest peak of Mt. Everest and has traveled to the Challenger Deep, the lowest reachable point in the ocean.
Ferreira will serve as Portugal&#8217;s first citizen to reach space. He leads Pluris Investments Group and raced in Dakar, the world&#8217;s most difficult car rally.
Kelly has long been a leader in the field of technology. He has served with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) where he was involved in the cutting edge of driverless car innovations.
Sabry will become Egypt&#8217;s first person and the nation&#8217;s first woman in space. She is the founder of <a href="https://urldefense.us/v3/__https:/deepspaceinitiative.org/__;!!OvyHrJTNo7faK-qlAog!ZTpCJs43N4BmizM-gfy1MMrv1jcwIyH09y3t08mv_hfwOwKFh8z4eRX-GYoP2iyl$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deep Space Initiative</a>, an organization that seeks to increase accessibility for space research. Her flight is sponsored by <a href="https://spaceforhumanity.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Space for Humanity</a>, a non-profit focused on expanded space access.
Young is the former CEO of Young&#8217;s Communications, the largest telecommunications contractor in Florida. He is also a committee member of the Space Coast Coastal Conservation Group.
The announcement of the new flight came just over one year since Blue Origin made its first human flight to space.
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One year ago today, we took the first step in advancing our vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Thank you to the 25 pioneers who’ve flown on New Shepard since our first human flight. This is only the beginning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FortheBenefitofEarth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FortheBenefitofEarth</a> <a href="https://t.co/64JylnFxrR">pic.twitter.com/64JylnFxrR</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1549756167316013058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;One year ago today, we took the first step in advancing our vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth,&#8221; Blue Origin tweeted to mark the anniversary last week. &#8220;Thank you to the 25 pioneers who’ve flown on New Shepard since our first human flight. This is only the beginning.&#8221;
Blue Origin was started in 2000 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The company&#8217;s past space passengers have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/comedian-pete-davidsons-headed-to-space">included</a> both experts and celebrities, such as comedian Pete Davidson and actor William Shatner.

Dude Perfect

Dude Perfect Co-Founder Headed To Space With Blue Origin

Humans exploring Mars and other nearby planets, ferried by spaceships and accommodated in floating hotels. Habitats orbiting the earth, as well as 10-minute flights from one side of the planet to the other. 
These are just a few of the ideas that today’s class of billionaire space explorers have envisioned. 
Depictions that once drew ridicule or indifference because they seemed absurd are becoming a reality, with ideas from Isaac Asimov and Gerard K. O’Neill shaping the future, and present, of space flight and exploration.
In the past decade alone, there has been an unprecedented wave of new space activity.
The interstellar Cold War
In the modern era, contests between world powers have often played out in the final frontier — outer space. And with these moves from the planet’s most powerful governments, there are certainly echoes of the past Cold War contests between the Soviet Union and the United States. But how does the advent of private ventures change the game — and will they determine who will control space?
While the United States has become by far the dominant force in space, there’s actually a long <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181204054125/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/publications/the_101_201_practice_series/space_law_101_an_introduction_to_space_law/">history</a> of international space laws and treaties that began over 100 years ago. As early as 1919, nations agreed that a country’s airspace was merely the area directly above its territory. When the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite in 1957, it violated this agreement. But President Dwight Eisenhower — knowing that the United States was interested in placing spy satellites above the Soviet Union — didn’t raise any concerns.
A decade later — around the same time the United States was setting its eyes on the moon — the United Nations agreed to an “<a href="https://treaties.unoda.org/t/outer_space">Outer Space Treaty</a>.” Signed in 1967, the agreement opens “the moon and other celestial bodies” to the benefit of all nations — and defines them as “the province of all mankind.” 
Likewise, the treaty says that celestial bodies can only be used for peaceful purposes — meaning that no weapons of mass destruction are allowed in outer space. 
Governments are also responsible for managing their national activities in space, whether carried out by official entities or private companies. And according to the agreement, each nation continues to have jurisdiction over all their objects and citizens in space. As of right now, 111 countries, including all of the spacefaring powers, have signed the agreement.
But as we’ve already seen, numerous world powers are actively pushing the limits of this treaty, with Russia’s anti-satellite missile and China’s globe-circling warhead standing as two clear examples.
However, China’s recent test isn’t the only problem on the horizon. The main rival of the U.S. is also seeking to make a stake on the moon, while also <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/06/23/china-wants-to-dominate-space-and-the-us-must-take-countermeasures/">investing</a> heavily in space weapons.
China has landed four spacecraft on the moon, with one rover actively exploring the surface over the past two years. 
In a June 2020 <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/06/23/china-wants-to-dominate-space-and-the-us-must-take-countermeasures/">article</a>, a U.S. intelligence officer wrote that although current missions are peaceful, China views space as “a military domain” and seeks “to secure both economic and military advantages.”
She added that China has developed anti-satellite and electronic warfare capabilities that can be activated from earth or space. In 2018, the Chinese military launched units that would train soldiers in directing anti-satellite missiles.
Recognizing this threat, President Trump established the United States Space Force in February 2019 as a sixth <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4IZrT-x808">branch</a> of the American military. He <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/text-space-policy-directive-4-establishment-united-states-space-force/">noted</a> the reality of America’s adversaries advancing their space capabilities and “actively developing ways” to deny America’s use of space “in a crisis or conflict.”   
In July 2021 the Defense Department’s first head of space operations took a trip to Europe in an <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/us-space-forces-seeks-allies-in-europe-guard-orbit/">attempt</a> to encourage allies like Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands to develop their own space military units, along the lines of France, Britain, and Germany.
He explicitly said China and Russia’s recent actions are “designed to deny our access to space.” 
The current White House, however, doesn’t seem to take the current space race — or threat — very seriously. When White House press secretary Jen Psaki was <a href="https://youtu.be/lpzqq1O6i9Y?t=1226">asked</a> whether Biden planned to keep the Space Force intact, for example, her sarcastic response indicated that she didn’t even know who ran the organization.
China aims for the moon
But while parts of the government might be asleep at the wheel, China is aiming for the moon — like the United States once did six decades ago. 
In December 2020, the Chang’e-5 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/science/china-moon-mission-rocks.html">landed</a> on earth after collecting 4.4 pounds of lunar rocks — continuing research started by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. 
And now, China is <a href="https://spacenews.com/china-is-working-on-a-lander-for-human-moon-missions/">developing</a> new launch vehicles and a new spacecraft that can send astronauts to the moon, with the intent to set foot on the lunar surface in less than ten years. 
Again echoing the Cold War era, Russia and China are teaming up to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/15/world/asia/china-russia-space.html">complete</a> several joint missions — including a robotic voyage to an asteroid in 2024 and the creation of a research base on the lunar south pole by 2030. Russia’s own moon program, Luna — a callback to the Soviet program of the same name — was supposed to <a href="https://room.eu.com/news/russias-luna-25-mission-postponed-over-problems-during-testing">launch</a> in 2021, but was pushed to May 2022 due to technical difficulties.
Once again, this sets up China and the United States for more competition. Vice President Mike Pence <a href="https://spacenews.com/pence-calls-for-human-return-to-the-moon-by-2024/">said</a> in 2019 that U.S. astronauts would be launched “by American rockets, from American soil” by the year 2024 through the Artemis mission — although that goal was more recently <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/nasa-says-wont-send-manned-mission-moon-until-2025-nyt-2021-11-09/">moved</a> to 2025. Pence also hinted that the lunar south pole held “great scientific, economic, and strategic value” — and added that part of the mission would be putting the first woman and first “person of color” on the moon.
The role of private industry in the battle for space
Unlike former lunar endeavors, private firms will play a sizable role in the astronauts’ mission. NASA <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/as-artemis-moves-forward-nasa-picks-spacex-to-land-next-americans-on-moon">gave</a> SpaceX nearly $3 billion to create a “human landing system” for their final leg of the journey to the surface of the moon. The technology will include a fully reusable launch and landing system that can work alongside the Gateway outpost, which will <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/gateway">orbit</a> the moon and support long-term human returns to the lunar surface.
But since its inception, SpaceX has always had its eyes on a far loftier target — Mars.
Right now, Elon Musk and his company are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-spacex-prepares-starship-rocket-for-orbital-flight">testing</a> the <a href="https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/">Starship</a> rocket — which will be able to carry over 100 metric tons to space. SpaceX plans to one day launch Starship into low-earth orbit and refuel the vessel before it continues the long journey to Mars. By 2050, Musk wants to <a href="https://www.inverse.com/innovation/spacex-mars-city-terraforming">build</a> a city of glass domes before eventually terraforming Mars to support life — all a part of mankind’s journey to becoming a “multi-planet civilization.”
The billionaire space race
SpaceX — the company founded by Elon Musk — has conducted over one hundred launches, including some manned missions. Blue Origin, the company created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has had several successful test flights, including one with Bezos on board. Virgin Galactic has also had a successful test flight with its founder, Richard Branson. 
SpaceX, the most prolific private spacefaring company, has driven a push toward cutting costs through reusable rockets capable of landing themselves. Since its inception, SpaceX has conducted over 130 launches, with several of the rockets used on multiple missions — one rocket, for example, has flown ten times. 
In addition, the company has launched over 1,600 of its Starlink <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musk-blasts-broken-faa-system-as-spacex-launches-88-satellites">satellites</a>, and has tested a prototype of its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/starship-landing-nominal-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-celebrates-after-mars-rocket-prototype-lands-successfully">Starship</a> rocket, which will eventually look to take passengers to Mars.
Most notably, the NASA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/success-u-s-launches-men-into-space-from-american-soil-first-time-in-nearly-a-decade">astronauts</a> who became the first to launch from American soil in nearly a decade traveled on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, alongside a separate private, non-professional crew.
The prospect of space tourism has also gained steam in recent months with activity from Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin.
In July 2021, Virgin Galactic carried a small <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/branson-wins-billionaire-space-race-hits-53-miles-above-earth-in-rocket-plane">crew</a> of civilians — including company founder Richard Branson — fifty-three miles above the earth on a rocket-powered plane. By a margin of only a few days, Branson edged out Jeff Bezos and his Blue Origin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billionaire-bezos-blasts-into-space-soars-to-66-5-miles-high-lands-safely-back-on-earth">mission</a> to win the first battle in the “billionaire space race.”
The mission from Bezos and Blue Origin traveled about 13 miles higher into space for a 10-minute flight. Bezos was joined by his brother, Mark, as well as an 82-year old and an 18-year old — the oldest and youngest people to ever go to space. That was, of course, until the next Blue Origin flight carried <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-just-getting-started-blue-origin-celebrates-william-shatners-return-from-to-space">William Shatner</a> — the star of the original Star Trek TV series as Captain Kirk — to space.
All of this activity means that there has been a massive flow of capital into the private space industry. According to one report, space ventures have seen nearly a quarter trillion dollars of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/investment-into-private-space-companies-reaches-new-heights">investment</a> in the last decade alone. But in addition to private companies, foreign powers are ramping up too.
Russia and China compete for control of space
For example, Russia was widely condemned when it fired a missile at one of its old satellites in November, creating a dangerous debris field in low-earth orbit.
<a href="https://twitter.com/OuterSpaceInst/status/1466534202841583617">Researchers</a> have <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/19/22791176/russia-asat-satellite-test-space-debris-visualizations">estimated</a> that the real-world debris will threaten other satellites and spacecraft for years to come. Elon Musk <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/musk-says-starlink-satellites-dodged-russian-missile-test-debris-2021-11">said</a> that his company’s Starlink satellites have already had to adjust course to dodge the wreckage, which is traveling at 10 times the speed of a bullet.
Months earlier, the Chinese government <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-will-lose-the-new-cold-war-with-communist-china-within-the-decade-house-armed-services-committee-member-reacts-to-ccp-hypersonic-missile-test">launched</a> a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circled the earth before zoning in on its target — with some lawmakers arguing that American technology was used to get the vehicle into low-earth orbit. 
In response, the United States government is moving to counter this threat. NASA reportedly plans to launch its massive Space Launch System rocket soon, after several delays. The spacecraft stands an incredible 322 feet tall, 138 feet taller than the Space Shuttle.
The U.S. Space Force also recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/spacex-receives-thumbs-up-to-carry-military-satellites-on-reused-rockets">granted</a> SpaceX permission to launch military satellites.
***
As competitors old and new, public and private, Eastern and Western, vye for control of space, it is clear that mankind will continue to lift its gaze to the stars.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Will wars be fought in space?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DjlvXpVLeyo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Readers-Pass—Haworth—Will-Wars-Be-Fought-In-Space_1

The Billionaire Space Race, And The Brewing Interstellar Cold War

China

Elon Musk

Readers Pass

Richard Branson

SpaceX

Virgin Galactic

On Saturday, Blue Origin — Jeff Bezos’ rocket company — sent Michael Strahan to space.
Strahan — a “Good Morning America” host and former New York Giants defensive end — was joined by multiple investors and the daughter of astronaut Alan Shepard on the brief mission.
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/11/business/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-michael-strahan-launch-scn/index.html">CNN Business</a> reported:
<blockquote>The group blasted off aboard Blue Origin&#8217;s suborbital space tourism rocket at 9:01 am CT from the company&#8217;s launch facilities near the rural town of Van Horn, Texas, where Bezos owns a sprawling ranch, and took a supersonic, 10-minute flight that reached more than 60 miles above the Earth&#8217;s surface before parachuting to a landing…
Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, whose father Alan Shepard went on a suborbital flight in 1961 and later walked on the moon, rode alongside investors Dylan Taylor, Evan Dick, and Lane Bess, as well as Bess&#8217; adult child, Cameron Bess — all of whom were paying customers. Blue Origin said that Strahan and Shepard Churchley were &#8220;honorary guests,&#8221; much like the last celebrity Blue Origin sent to the edge of space, William Shatner, and did not have to pay their way.
This flight marks the first time that Blue Origin filled all six seats on its New Shepard rocket and capsule, which is named for Alan Shepard. On the company&#8217;s two previous flights — including the July flight that sent Bezos himself to space — only four of the seats were taken up.</blockquote>
Strahan <a href="https://abc7ny.com/sports/new-york-giants-legend-tv-personality-michael-strahan-flies-in-spa/11325392/">brought</a> his Super Bowl ring and retired Giants jersey aboard the vessel; meanwhile, Churchley carried a piece of the Freedom 7 capsule, as well as some of the golf balls that her father once hit on the surface of the moon.
In a video posted to social media, an elated Strahan said that the experience was “surreal.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
TOUCHDOWN has a new meaning now!!!
WOW…. that was amazing!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@blueorigin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SMAC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SMAC</a> <a href="https://t.co/xz54JT49f3">pic.twitter.com/xz54JT49f3</a>
— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelstrahan/status/1469716074610446337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
In October, Blue Origin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-just-getting-started-blue-origin-celebrates-william-shatners-return-from-to-space">sent</a> William Shatner — who starred as Captain Kirk in the original “Star Trek” television series — to the edge of space, making him the oldest person in history to make the journey. “Everybody in the world needs to do this,” the Canadian actor told Bezos after the Blue Origin craft safely landed. “It was unbelievable.”
In July, Bezos <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billionaire-bezos-blasts-into-space-soars-to-66-5-miles-high-lands-safely-back-on-earth">journeyed</a> to space alongside his brother, Mark; an 82-year-old aviation pioneer from Texas; and an 18-year-old physics student from the Netherlands. However, Richard Branson narrowly edged out Bezos in becoming the first man to enter space in his own vessel.
Over the past several months, China and Russia have also been advancing their spacefaring capabilities.
A recent report <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/milley-confirms-china-indeed-fired-hypersonic-missiles">stated</a> that the Chinese military launched a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circumnavigated the planet before taking aim at its target. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley subsequently acknowledged the tests: “They’re expanding rapidly — in space, in cyber, and then in the traditional domains of land, sea, and air. And they have gone from a peasant-based infantry army that was very, very large in 1979 to a very capable military that covers all the domains and has global ambitions.”
Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/irresponsible-russia-shoots-down-satellite-generates-debris-threatening-international-space-station">tested</a> a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile that destroyed a Russian satellite — provoking criticism from other nations for creating a debris field in low-earth orbit.

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports 2019 – Red Carpet

Michael Strahan Heads To Space On Blue Origin Rocket, Brings Super Bowl Ring And Retired Giants Jersey

In 2021 alone, financiers have so far poured nearly $25 billion into private space ventures.
<a href="https://www.spacecapital.com/quarterly">Space Capital</a> — a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage space technology — points out in its most recent quarterly report that the past year has been historic for the private space industry. In July, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/branson-wins-billionaire-space-race-hits-53-miles-above-earth-in-rocket-plane">Virgin Galactic</a> won the private space race, sending a vessel 53 miles above the Earth — making its founder, Richard Branson, the first human to enter into space in his own vehicle. Days later, Jeff Bezos reached an altitude of 62 miles on his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billionaire-bezos-and-crew-prepare-for-blue-origin-rocket-launch-into-space">Blue Origin</a> spacecraft. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-spacex-prepares-starship-rocket-for-orbital-flight">SpaceX</a> is preparing to launch its massive Starship rocket into orbit.
Space Capital explains that record levels of investment are following the billionaires:
<blockquote>With another $8.7B invested into 112 space companies in Q3, there has now been $231.2B of equity investment into 1,654 unique companies in the space economy over the past 10 years. VCs invested another $3.9B into 83 space companies in Q3, of which $2.0B went to U.S. companies. Infrastructure companies have already hit a new record, with $10.3B invested YTD (6% more than full year 2020), driven in part by SPACs.</blockquote>
The report also notes that American firms account for two-thirds of the investment in space hardware and software — followed by the United Kingdom and China.
Despite its promising future, some lawmakers are already attempting to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-rep-proposes-space-tourism-tax-days-after-first-private-flights">regulate</a> the space industry. Days after Branson and Bezos launched their first tourism missions, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) proposed the Securing Protections Against Carbon Emissions (SPACE) Tax Act which would establish a new excise tax on commercial space flights carrying human passengers for purposes other than scientific research.
The tax would be applied in two tiers — the first for suborbital flights exceeding 50 miles above the Earth’s surface and the second for orbital flights exceeding 80 miles above the Earth’s surface.
“Just as normal Americans pay taxes when they buy airline tickets, billionaires who fly into space to produce nothing of scientific value should do the same, and then some,” Blumenauer explained. “I’m not opposed to this type of space innovation. However, things that are done purely for tourism or entertainment, and that don’t have a scientific purpose, should in turn support the public good.”
Earlier this year, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-elizabeth-warren-says-jeff-bezos-space-trip-is-financed-by-americans-who-actually-paid-taxes">revealed</a> similar sentiments toward Bezos and Blue Origin.
“Look, he’s laughing at every person in America who actually paid taxes,” Warren told TMZ. “Jeff Bezos’ trip to outer space is being financed by all the rest of the U.S. taxpayers who paid their taxes so that Jeff Bezos didn’t have to. And Jeff Bezos kept all his money and used it on his space ticket.”

Investment Into Private Space Companies Reaches New Heights

William Shatner — the star of the original Star Trek TV series as Captain Kirk — became the oldest person in history to have traveled to space after his journey on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft successfully reached the edge of space on Wednesday morning.
&#8220;Everybody in the world needs to do this,&#8221; the Canadian actor <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58885555">told</a> Bezos after the Blue Origin craft safely returned to Earth. &#8220;It was unbelievable.&#8221;
“It’s just — there is Mother Earth, life and comfort down there and up there,” he <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/10/13/blue-origin-blasts-star-trek-actor-william-shatner-to-space/">said</a> gesturing upward, “is it just death? I don’t know.”
“What you see is black and what you see down there is light.”
&#8220;What you have given me is the most profound experience,” Shatner added, through tears. “I&#8217;m so filled with emotion about what just happened. I hope I never recover from this. I hope I can retain what I feel now. I don&#8217;t want to lose it.&#8221;
As Blue Origin announced on their <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-18-mission-updates">website</a>, they “successfully completed its second human spaceflight on board New Shepard on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.”
“The flight included four astronauts, Dr. Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, Audrey Powers, and William Shatner, as well as thousands of postcards from Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future,” the release continued.
“At Blue Origin, we are motivated by the dreamers that inspire us and the builders who turn those dreams into reality. Today’s crew represented both dreamers and builders. We had the honor of flying our very own Audrey Powers, Vice President of New Shepard Operations, who fulfilled a lifelong dream to go to space and has been an integral part of building New Shepard. Our two customers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, have built their own successful ventures and have now realized their own dreams of space travel. And, as everyone knows, William Shatner has played an important role in describing and imagining the wonders of [the] universe and inspired many of us to pursue a career in the space industry,” said Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin. “This flight was another step forward in flying astronauts safely and often. It’s an incredible team and we are just getting started.”
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/william-shatner-90-famous-for-playing-captain-kirk-blasts-into-the-final-frontier">The Daily Wire</a> reported earlier, “The rocket launched at 9:49 a.m. CST, reaching more than 50,000 feet in just one minute. The craft hit a top speed of more than 2,200 mph.”
“The capsule and booster separated a few minutes later and the craft eventually reached a top altitude of 351,185, a little more than 66.5 miles off the surface of the Earth. On descent, the craft created a loud sonic boom,” The Daily Wire continued. “Three small parachutes then popped out, pulling along three main red, white, and blue chutes.”
In a <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/shatner-powers-announced-ns18">press release</a>, Blue Origin explained that Shatner was included in the latest crew.
“William Shatner’s career as an actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman has spanned 60 years,” the company said. “He originated the role of ‘Captain James T. Kirk’ in 1966 for the television series Star Trek. The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek movies, one of which he directed. He has long wanted to travel to space and will become the oldest person to have flown to space.”

‘We Are Just Getting Started’: Blue Origin Celebrates William Shatner’s Return From To Space

Amazon

William Shatner

William Shatner, 90, who played the captain of the Starship Enterprise on &#8220;Star Trek,&#8221;  blasted into the final frontier on Wednesday aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin capsule and rocket.
The rocket launched at 9:49 a.m. CST, reaching more than 50,000 feet in just one minute. The craft hit a top speed of more than 2,200 mph.
The capsule and booster separated a few minutes later and the craft eventually reached a top altitude of 351,185, a little more than 66.5 miles off the surface of the Earth. On descent, the craft created a loud sonic boom.
Three small parachutes then popped out, pulling along three main red, white, and blue chutes.
&#8220;That was unlike anything they described,&#8221; Shatner could be heard saying as the capsule neared the ground. &#8220;That&#8217;s unlike anything I&#8217;ve ever experienced.&#8221;
At 9:59 a.m., just 10 minutes after launch, the capsule touched down safely.
&#8220;Not only is it different from what you thought, it happens so quickly,&#8221; Shatner said once on the ground. &#8220;Everybody in the world needs to do this. Everybody in the world needs to see this.&#8221;
Shatner said it was weird to be covered in blue, but then sink into black. Looking down from that altitude, he said, &#8220;there is mother Earth, and there is,&#8221; he said, pointing up, &#8220;is it death? I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;
To Bezos, he said, &#8220;what you have given me is the most profound experience,&#8221; he said, choking up with emotion before hugging Bezos and wiping his eyes. &#8220;I am overwhelmed.&#8221;
Before the launch, Blue Origin explained why Shatner was included in the NS-18 crew.
“William Shatner’s career as an actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman has spanned 60 years,” the company said in a <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/shatner-powers-announced-ns18">press release</a>. “He originated the role of ‘Captain James T. Kirk’ in 1966 for the television series Star Trek. The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek movies, one of which he directed. He has long wanted to travel to space and will become the oldest person to have flown to space.”
When the flight was announced, Shatner said: &#8220;I’ve heard about space for a long time now. I’m taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle.&#8221;
“So now I can say something. Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a ‘rocket man!’” Shatner tweeted following the announcement.
Bezos, who founded Amazon, blasted into space aboard his New Shepard rocket back in July, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has tightened its rules on who qualifies to be deemed an “astronaut.&#8221; Although Bezos and the crew of Blue Origin soared to 66.5 miles above the Earth — technically qualifying for a trip into outer space — the fully autonomous New Shepard rocket ship means they weren’t really “astronauts.”
“In order to qualify, they have to make a contribution to the flight and to human space flight safety while traveling beyond the 50 miles mark defined as space by the FAA,” the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9817863/Jeff-Bezos-NOT-astronaut-FAA-changes-rules-awards-astronaut-wings.html">reported</a>. “With the Blue Origin New Shepard spacecraft controlled entirely from the ground, with no input from the crew on board, the new FAA criteria wasn’t met.”
But the pilots of a Virgin Galactic craft, who flew the space plane to 53 miles above the Earth on July 10, along with chief astronaut Beth Moses, who flew solo on a test flight, have been awarded the new commercial FAA astronaut wings. Yet no one from the Blue Origin team qualified.
To be considered to have flown into space, one must pass the Kármán line. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), an international body for aeronautics and astronautics that sets standards and keeps records, defines the Kármán line as the altitude of 100 kilometers — or 62 miles (about 330,000 feet) — above Earth’s mean sea level.

William Shatner take part in New Shepard spacecraft crew

TO OLDLY GO: William Shatner, 90, Famous For Captain Kirk Role, Blasts Into The Final Frontier

On Monday, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced that Star Trek star, William Shatner, will travel to space on the next Blue Origin flight. Shatner, who is 90-years-old, will be joined by Audrey Powers, Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations, as well as crewmates Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries. The flight will depart from Launch Site One on October 12.
“William Shatner’s career as an actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman has spanned 60 years,” Blue Origin announced in a <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/shatner-powers-announced-ns18">press release</a>. “He originated the role of ‘Captain James T. Kirk’ in 1966 for the television series Star Trek. The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek movies, one of which he directed. He has long wanted to travel to space and will become the oldest person to have flown to space.”
“Shatner is currently the host and executive producer of The UnXplained on The History Channel. From the producers of Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island, the one-hour, non-fiction series explores the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries,” the press release continued.
“I’ve heard about space for a long time now. I’m taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle,” said Shatner.
“So now I can say something. Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a ‘rocket man!’” Shatner tweeted following the announcement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
So now I can say something. Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a “rocket man!” 😝🤣 <a href="https://t.co/B2jFeXrr6L">https://t.co/B2jFeXrr6L</a>
&mdash; William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1445023239105703946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I’m so proud and humbled to fly on behalf of Team Blue, and I’m excited to continue writing Blue’s human spaceflight history,” said Audrey Powers, who joined Blue Origin in 2013, and now “oversees all New Shepard flight operations, vehicle maintenance, and launch, landing, and ground support infrastructure.” 
“I was part of the amazing effort we assembled for New Shepard’s Human Flight Certification Review, a years-long initiative completed in July 2021. As an engineer and lawyer with more than two decades of experience in the aerospace industry, I have great confidence in our New Shepard team and the vehicle we’ve developed,&#8221; she added.
In July, Bezos flew into space “on his company’s first flight with passengers aboard, becoming the second billionaire to use his own spacecraft to become an astronaut.”
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billionaire-bezos-blasts-into-space-soars-to-66-5-miles-high-lands-safely-back-on-earth">The Daily Wire</a> reported at the time, “The 10:10 flight went off without a hitch, blasting off right on schedule, soaring to an apogee of 351,210 feet (66.51 miles), then plunging back to Earth.”
In a status check of all passengers after the capsule landed in a plume of dust, the Amazon founder said “astronaut Bezos: best day ever.”
“It’s dark up here!” said Wally Funk, one of 13 female pilots who passed the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never got a chance to go to space. On the way back to Earth, she exclaimed: “2,000 miles per hour! Oh my word!”
Bezos was accompanied into space by three people: his brother, Mark, an 82-year-old aviation pioneer from Texas, and an 18-year-old physics student from the Netherlands — the oldest and youngest people ever to blast into space.

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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, one of a slew of billionaires who are ignoring all the woes on Planet Earth as they head to space on their own private rockets, acknowledges that their flights &#8220;are just joyrides.&#8221;
In an <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/07/19/jeff-bezos-space-flight-crane-intv-newday-vpx.cnn">interview</a> Monday on CNN, Bezos &#8212; whose Blue Origin rocket is set to blast into space on Tuesday &#8212; was asked by host Rachel Crane about his upcoming flight. &#8220;There have been a chorus of critics saying that these flights to space are just joyrides for the wealthy and that you should be spending your time and your money and energy trying to solve problems here on Earth. So what do you say to those critics?”
&#8220;Well, I say they’re largely right. We have to do both,&#8221; Bezos said. &#8220;We have lots of problems here and now on Earth and we need to work on those, and we always need to look to the future. We’ve always done that as a species, as a civilization. We have to do both.&#8221;
Bezos defended the space flights, saying Blue Origin’s mission is about opening space travel for everyone. “If we can do that, then we’ll be building a road to space for the next generations to do amazing things there, and those amazing things will solve problems here on Earth… So, the real answer is, yes, we have to do both,&#8221; he said.
The billionaire will soar into space on his company&#8217;s New Shepard spacecraft, a 60-foot-tall rocket-and-capsule combo that is completely autonomous, meaning no pilot will be aboard. Instead, the rocket will be controlled by flight engineers on the ground from a facility in the desert plains of west Texas.
Bezos and his crew &#8212; which includes the oldest and youngest people to ever go to space, 82-year-old female aviator Wally Funk and 18-year-old physics student Oliver Daemen &#8212; won&#8217;t be gone long. The flight is scheduled to last just 11 minutes. Bezos&#8217; brother Mark rounds out the passengers.
Blue Origin says its spacecraft is ready to go.
&#8220;Blue Origin has been flight testing New Shepard and its redundant safety systems since 2012. The program has had 15 successful consecutive missions including three successful escape tests, showing the crew escape system can activate safely in any phase of flight,&#8221; the company says on its <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/">website</a>.
The Shepard spacecraft, named after Alan Shepard, an astronaut who in 1961 became the first American in space, will soar 62 miles up before the capsule re-enters the atmosphere and returns to Earth by parachute.
Bezos will best Virgin Galactic&#8217;s Richard Branson, who earlier this month flew to 53 miles above Earth as he became the first person in history to use his own vehicle to go to space.
Before Branson&#8217;s flight, Team Bezos threw some shade at the billionaire.
&#8220;Only 4% of the world recognizes a lower limit of 80 km or 50 miles as the beginning of space. New Shepard flies above both boundaries. One of the many benefits of flying with Blue Origin,&#8221; they wrote on Twitter.
And they tossed out another dig: &#8220;From the beginning, New Shepard was designed to fly above the Kármán line so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name. For 96% of the world’s population, space begins 100 km up at the internationally recognized Kármán line.&#8221;
The Kármán line is named after Theodore von Kármán, a Hungarian American engineer and physicist who was active in aeronautics and astronautics and lived from 1881 to 1963. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), an international body for aeronautics and astronautics that sets standards and keeps records, defines the Kármán line as the altitude of 100 kilometers &#8212; or 62 miles (about 330,000 feet) &#8212; above Earth&#8217;s mean sea level.
But the U.S. puts the line of outer space at 50 miles. &#8220;It&#8217;s also roughly the altitude that was used by the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s when it gave out astronaut wings to test pilots who flew over 50 miles (80 km) high,&#8221; <a href="https://astronomy.com/news/2021/03/the-krmn-line-where-does-space-begin">according</a> to astronomy.com.
On July 10, Branson won the space race among his fellow billionaires, becoming the first earthling to soar into space in his own vehicle. In a roughly 14-minute flight, Branson, 71, the founder of Virgin Airlines and now Virgin Galactic, beat out Bezos and fellow billionaire Elon Musk, whose SpaceX company plans to soar even higher in a September flight.
About 500 people, including Branson’s wife, children, and grandchildren who had gathered at a runway in Truth or Consequences, NM, cheered when the space plane landed.

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