DeKalb GA News

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has addressed the status of a group of high-profile individuals who recently participated in a brief spaceflight aboard a Blue Origin capsule. Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sanchez, and others took part in an 11-minute trip into space, during which they referred to themselves as “The Six Taking Up Space” and followed some astronaut traditions.

Blue Origin confirmed the flight as its 31st mission under the New Shepard program and noted that it was the 11th human spaceflight. The crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sanchez. The company praised the success of the mission and highlighted its achievement of having flown 58 people to space so far.

Transportation Secretary Duffy clarified that the participants cannot be officially labeled as astronauts. According to Duffy, "The U.S. commercial space industry is an inspiring project which showcases American ingenuity and exceptionalism. But the last FAA guidelines under the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program were clear: Crewmembers who travel into space must have 'demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety.'"

Duffy emphasized that while the participants were brave for partaking in the automated Blue Origin flight, they did not fulfill the criteria established by the FAA for astronaut designation. "They do not meet the FAA astronaut criteria," Duffy stated, reiterating the importance of adherence to established guidelines for formal recognition as astronauts.

The clarification by Secretary Duffy underscores the distinction between space tourism and the traditional roles associated with astronauts in space exploration.