Blue Origin’s all-female crew, including Katy Perry, successfully launched

Tech Crunch - Apr 14th, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, launched its New Shepard rocket on Monday, marking a significant milestone by featuring the first all-female space crew since 1963. The mission included notable figures such as pop artist Katy Perry, 'CBS Mornings' anchor Gayle King, and aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe. This event marked the 31st trip of the New Shepard and its 11th crewed mission, positioning Blue Origin as a formidable competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX in the burgeoning space tourism industry.

While the mission celebrated the role of women in astronautics and aimed to offer a unique perspective on Earth, it also highlighted the exclusivity of space tourism, given the $150,000 price tag per ticket. This launch comes amid economic challenges in the U.S., drawing criticism for catering primarily to the wealthy. Nevertheless, participants like Katy Perry emphasized the broader message of environmental awareness and protection. With plans for a second launch of its New Glenn rocket in the spring, Blue Origin continues to advance its ambitions in space exploration and tourism.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article on Blue Origin's all-female crew launch is a timely and engaging piece that highlights significant achievements in space exploration and gender representation. It effectively captures public interest by featuring high-profile personalities and addressing current developments in the space tourism industry. However, the story's accuracy is somewhat compromised by a lack of source attribution and verification for certain claims, such as the cost of participation and the details of future launches. While the article is clear and well-structured, it could benefit from greater transparency and a more balanced exploration of criticisms and controversies surrounding space tourism. Overall, the story succeeds in engaging readers and sparking interest in the topic, but it falls short in providing a comprehensive and well-supported analysis of the issues at hand.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story accurately reports the successful launch of Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket and its all-female crew, which is confirmed by multiple sources. However, the claim about the cost of participation ($150,000) is not directly verified in the sources, which affects the precision of the report. Additionally, while the story mentions the criticism of Blue Origin as an exclusive venture, it lacks direct source support for this claim, making it less verifiable. The mention of future New Glenn launches is not substantiated by the sources, which suggests a potential gap in accuracy. Overall, most of the key facts align with verified information, but some details require further verification.

6
Balance

The article presents a balanced view of Blue Origin's mission by highlighting both the achievement of the all-female crew and the criticism regarding exclusivity and cost. However, the perspectives of those critical of Blue Origin are not explored in depth, which could lead to an imbalance in representation. The story primarily focuses on the positive aspects and the participants' perspectives, particularly Katy Perry's, without providing a comprehensive view of the broader public opinion or industry critiques. This limited viewpoint range may lead to perceived favoritism towards Blue Origin's narrative.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, providing a straightforward account of the Blue Origin launch and its significance. The language is accessible, and the structure follows a logical flow, making it easy for readers to follow the narrative. However, some areas, such as the details of the criticism and future launches, could be expanded for greater clarity. The tone remains neutral and informative, which aids in the reader's comprehension of the event and its implications.

5
Source quality

The article does not cite specific sources or provide attributions for the claims made, which affects the perceived credibility and reliability. While it references a CBS interview with Katy Perry, it does not provide a direct link or detailed attribution. The lack of varied sources and authoritative voices, such as industry experts or independent analysts, limits the depth of reporting and raises questions about potential conflicts of interest or bias. The absence of diverse sources undermines the story's impartiality and thoroughness.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the context of claims and the methodology behind the information presented. It does not explain how the information was gathered or verified, nor does it reveal any potential conflicts of interest. The basis for certain claims, such as the cost of participation and the criticism of exclusivity, is not clearly outlined, which affects the clarity and trustworthiness of the report. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would improve the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://abcnews.go.com/US/blue-origin-rocket-female-crew-including-katy-perry/story?id=120779187
  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gayle-king-space-launch-blue-origin-live-stream/
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQAUjKbvh8o
  4. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/blue-origin-launches-an-all-female-celebrity-crew-with-katy-perry-gayle-king-and-lauren-sanchez
  5. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-katy-perry-space-first-all-female-crew