Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde Troll Blue Origin Space Launch

by

Not every star is up to go to space.

Similarly to when the all-female crew, led by Lauren Sánchez and consisting of Katy Perry and Gayle King, embarked on a space journey aboard Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission on April 14, some celebrities expressed less than thrilling responses to this historic event.

Amy Schumer posted a tongue-in-cheek video, humorously implying that she unexpectedly got an invite for the mission.

In a humorous tone, the comedian said in an April 14 Instagram video, “They just threw me into space at the last minute! Can you believe it? Here I am, off to space!” He added, waving a Black Panther toy, “I’m taking this along. It doesn’t have any significance to me, but it was in my bag when I got the text and they asked, ‘Do you want to go to space?’ So here I am, heading for space.

“Thank you to everyone who got me here,” Schumer added. “I’ll see you guys in space.”

Meanwhile, Olivia Wilde voiced her disapproval towards the expensive project initiated by Jeff Bezos’ space technology company. The director of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ shared a meme that compared photos of Perry kissing the ground in relief after the crew’s safe landing with a caption saying “getting off a commercial flight in 2025,” as a reference to the numerous plane incidents that have occurred recently.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I mused over a captivating meme shared on my Instagram Stories by none other than Wilde. In essence, it seems like the staggering sum of one billion dollars has indeed unlocked a treasure trove of entertaining and engaging content for us all to enjoy!

Meanwhile, Olivia Wilde voiced her disapproval towards the expensive venture led by Jeff Bezos’ space technology company. In response to a meme shared by the director of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’, photos of Perry kissing the ground upon safe landing were captioned “getting off a commercial flight in 2025”, which alluded to the many plane mishaps that have occurred recently.

In a post on her Instagram Stories, Wilde commented, “It seems a billion dollars can buy some decent memes.

Munn added, “It might sound irritating, but considering the high cost of space travel versus the expense of basic necessities like eggs for many individuals, it’s a significant disparity.

Previously from the Newsroom, there was speculation about the potential influence the Blue Origin mission might truly exert on humanity’s future.

She questioned the purpose, saying, ‘Is it significant that you’re going on this journey? I find it extravagant,’ she remarked. However, space exploration was aimed at expanding our understanding and benefiting humanity. So, what benefits will they bring back from their journey that will make life better for us here on Earth?

Olivia Munn had already criticized the Blue Origin mission before Schumer and Wilde, calling it a reckless display of excess.

On the April 3 episode of ‘Today With Jenna & Friends’, the actress from ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ mentioned what they were doing. She added, ‘It might not be trendy to say this, but there are numerous other crucial matters that need attention in the world at present.’

Munn added, ‘It might seem overly critical, but consider this: the cost to travel in space is enormous compared to something as basic as affording eggs for many people.’

A former member of the Newsroom team raised doubts about the real effect that the Blue Origin mission might truly bring upon humanity.

She questioned, “Why bother? Is it significant that you’re embarking on this journey? I find it a bit excessive,” she commented. However, space exploration is about expanding our understanding and helping humanity. So, what benefits will we gain from this venture that positively impacts our lives down here?

Keep reading for more on the star-studded Blue Origin mission…

Established by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos in 2000, Blue Origin operates as a private space corporation based in Kent, Washington. As stated on their official site, the mission of this organization is twofold: to utilize space resources for Earth’s benefit and expand human presence in space through enhanced transportation methods and the development of habitable locations in low Earth orbit.

Blue Origin strives to attain these objectives by constructing reusable rockets and engines, aiming to lower the expense of space travel, make it more affordable for civilians, and promote sustainability. In a 2016 talk at the Pathfinder Awards, Bezos shared their vision: “Our goal is to have millions of people living and working in space.” He emphasized their focus on reducing the cost of space travel by concentrating on reusability.

As for booking a seat on a Blue Origin flight, though the company doesn’t publish ticket prices on its website, it does require a $150,000 deposit.

As a passionate admirer of the legendary astronaut Alan Shepard, who made history by being the first American in space in 1961, I can’t help but be captivated by Blue Origin’s creation, aptly named New Shepard. This isn’t just any rocket; it’s a fully reusable, suborbital system designed for human travel, as they put it.

The pressurized crew capsule can accommodate six lucky souls, but there’s no need to worry about a pilot. That’s because New Shepard is autonomous, without a single human hand on the controls.

New Shepard had its maiden voyage in 2015, kicking off a flight test program that included a successful series of 16 tests, all wrapped up by 2021. In that remarkable year, none other than Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark took part in New Shepard’s inaugural human flight. A fortunate auction winner also joined them, shelling out an impressive $28 million for the privilege. Later in the same year, the likes of William Shatner and Michael Strahan embarked on this cosmic adventure (on separate missions, I might add).

The upcoming mission will be New Shepard’s 31st overall (hence NS-31) and its 11th with human passengers aboard.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m thrilled to share that come April 14th, I’ll be eagerly waiting for the liftoff of Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission. This historic event will take place from Launch Site One, nestled within the majestic Guadalupe Mountain range in the arid West Texas desert. The countdown begins at 8:30 a.m. CDT, so mark your calendars for this unforgettable moment!

According to Blue Origin’s website, astronauts on board New Shepard rockets accelerate faster than three times the speed of sound and reach heights beyond the Kármán line, which is recognized as the boundary of space at approximately 62 miles (or 100 km) above Earth. Once they surpass this point, they can unfasten their seatbelts to experience weightlessness and marvel at our planet. The journey ends with a soft landing under parachutes, taking about 11 minutes in total.

 

As an over-the-moon fan, I can’t contain my excitement about being part of this incredible journey! The crew for mission NS-31, the one that has me absolutely starstruck, consists of none other than the legendary singer Katy Perry, the charismatic CBS Mornings host Gayle King, the visionary film producer Kerianne Flynn, the brilliant STEMBoard founder and ex-NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, the trailblazing bioastronautics research scientist and activist Amanda Nguyen, and last but certainly not least, former TV anchor Lauren Sánchez (who’s engaged to Bezos).

Fun fact: This all-female spaceflight crew marks a historic first since 1963, when the Soviet Union’s Valentina Tereshkova embarked on a solo mission and became the first woman to venture into the cosmos.

Nguyen is set to make history as the first Vietnamese woman to travel to space, while Bowe is poised to leave her indelible mark in the annals of history as the first person of Bahamian heritage to tread where few have dared to go before.

Each team member has their unique motivations for joining this mission. In an interview with ELLE, several crew members spoke about their aspirations to inspire future generations. For Perry, it’s about instilling in her daughter Daisy, whom she shares with fiancé Orlando Bloom, the belief that there are no boundaries to one’s dreams, showing her that anyone, regardless of their background, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or educational background, can achieve their dreams. King, who has been candid about her apprehensions, hopes to encourage others to step out of their comfort zones. She shared that once she takes this leap, it will pave the way for countless others who were hesitant but now feel inspired and excited to embark on a similar journey. Nguyen, on the other hand, sees this opportunity as a chance to realize a “deferred dream.” Having worked at NASA and studied astrophysics at Harvard and MIT, she had to put her dreams aside due to life’s obstacles, gender-based violence being a significant factor. After advocating for sexual assault survivors’ rights for over a decade, she now feels ready to honor the person she was before the trauma and resume her passion for space exploration.

As reported by Good Morning America, each team member is scheduled to travel to the launch site well ahead of the mission, where they’ll participate in various preparation sessions. These sessions involve being properly suited up for flight, familiarizing themselves with the spacecraft, learning effective ways to communicate with ground control, and reviewing essential safety procedures.

Even though the mission required a collective effort from all crew members, some individuals took it upon themselves to prepare independently prior to the launch.

For instance, Bowe shared with ELLE that he’d been intensifying his preparations for the past year, and had recently completed a NASTAR simulation to simulate the flight conditions. He considered physical readiness crucial, aiming to familiarize his body with the sensation of lift-off. He also booked a fighter jet flight, expressing great anticipation about the experience.

Similarly, Flynn stated that she had undertaken several zero-gravity simulation flights. She further explained how these simulations were conducted by modifying a Boeing 747 to fly in a parabolic pattern, causing everyone onboard to float when the plane descends. This was to acclimate herself to weightlessness, and she expressed eagerness to enjoy the sensation during the flight. Additionally, Flynn underwent NASTAR training in Philadelphia, where she experienced pressures up to five Gs.

Here are a few celebrities who shared what they plan to take with them on their upcoming space missions:

– Nancy Conrad is carrying an Apollo 12 flag that was given to her by the wife of the third man to walk on the moon, Pete Conrad. She finds inspiration and mentorship in Conrad’s wife.

– Bowe is packing plant samples from Winston-Salem State University’s Astrobotany Lab as well as dehydrated conch chowder to represent The Bahamas. She also has the historic Apollo 12 flag with her, which she was given by Conrad’s wife.

– Nguyen is bringing personal items on the mission, including shells from an island that her mother is a refugee from and a promise she made to herself after overcoming an assault. She also plans to bring a pen used by former president Barack Obama to sign the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Act, a Nguyen dynasty coin, and Freetown cotton tree seeds.

As an ardent follower, I’m thrilled to share that some celebrities have offered encouraging messages to the crew – a heartfelt send-off video for me, specifically, was orchestrated by CBS Mornings with none other than Tom Hanks, Megan Rapinoe, Bill Nye, Drew Barrymore, and others. The Charlie’s Angels actress even hinted at picking my brain as soon as I return home!

On the flip side, Olivia Munn has been vocal about her criticism. On Today with Jenna & Friends on April 3, she questioned the mission, expressing concerns about its relevance and cost. She raised valid points, saying it’s expensive to venture into space when there are people struggling to afford basic necessities like food.

She also voiced her concern about the perceived self-indulgence of the mission, asking what purpose it serves, apart from being a promotional stunt for Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin. However, King acknowledges these criticisms but chooses to focus on the significance of the mission beyond just one man and his company. She sees this as an opportunity to make progress without compromising other endeavors.

Read More

2025-04-14 21:17