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Gayle King Responds to Criticism of Blue Origin All-Women Space Mission
Veteran broadcaster Gayle King has addressed the backlash surrounding the recent Blue Origin spaceflight that featured an all-female crew. The CBS Mornings co-host, age 70, defended the mission in a recent interview, countering arguments made by critics of the space venture.
King’s Defense of Space Exploration
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight just a day after her suborbital journey with five other women, King expressed her disappointment with negative reactions, including those from acquaintances. The spaceflight, which lasted approximately 11 minutes, has ignited debate about the value and timing of such endeavors.
Historic All-Female Crew
The Blue Origin flight on Monday, April 14, marked a significant milestone, carrying the first all-women astronaut crew since Valentina Tereshkova‘s pioneering solo mission in 1963. The crew included:
- Gayle King
- Katy Perry
- Filmmaker Kerianne Flynn
- Civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen
- Former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe
- Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos
This diverse group of women participated in the groundbreaking space excursion.
Criticism and Counterarguments
Despite its historic nature, the mission faced criticism from figures like Olivia Wilde and Emily Ratajkowski, who voiced concerns over the high cost of space travel amid pressing economic and environmental issues on Earth.
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“Space is Both/And”: King’s Rebuttal
King directly responded to these concerns, stating, “Space is not an either/or, it’s a both/and.” She elaborated, clarifying that space exploration is not detrimental to Earthly concerns. “Because you do something in space doesn’t mean you’re taking anything away from Earth, and what you’re doing in space is trying to make things better here on Earth,” King asserted in the Entertainment Tonight interview. She further emphasized Blue Origin’s objectives, noting, “What Blue Origin wants to do is take the waste here and figure out a way to put it in space to make our planet cleaner.” King highlighted Jeff Bezos’ dedication and the commitment of Blue Origin staff to environmental improvement on Earth.
Challenging Skepticism
King extended an invitation to critics to experience space firsthand before judging, suggesting, “Have you been? If you’ve been and you still feel that way after you come back, please let’s have a conversation.”
Disappointment over Negative Reactions
Expressing her personal feelings, King conveyed her dismay, stating, “So, I’m very disappointed and very saddened by it.” She also highlighted the positive impact of the mission, mentioning the inspirational messages received from women and young girls inspired by the all-female space crew.
Addressing “Ride” vs. “Flight” Terminology
King also challenged the characterization of the spaceflight as a mere “ride.” She pointed out the disparity in language, noting that male astronaut missions are never referred to as “rides.” “Whenever a man goes up, you have never said to an astronaut, ‘Boy, what a ride!’” King observed.
Drawing Parallels to Alan Shepard’s Flight
Elaborating on the seriousness of the mission, King explained the technical parallels to early spaceflights. “We duplicated the same trajectory Alan Shepard did back in the day pretty much,” she stated. She argued that terms like “flight” or “journey” are more appropriate, as “ride” diminishes the significance of the achievement, implying frivolity. “There was nothing frivolous about what we did, and the machine that we were on, and what it took for the people to get that machine up and running, to get us up and get us back down safely,” King concluded, underscoring the rigorous nature of space travel.