The private spaceflight industry is reaching new heights of extravagance with the upcoming launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, which will carry a crew including a faded pop sensation and Jeff Bezos’ partner to the edge of space.

Blue Origin has announced the launch date for its next private mission, which will send a crew of six private astronauts aboard the New Shepard rocket. The mission, dubbed NS-31, is scheduled to launch on Monday, April 14 from Launch Site One in West Texas, as stated on the company!s website.

The mission will feature an all-female crew, including singer Katy Perry, TV personality Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Also on board will be former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. While some crew members have relevant backgrounds, others seem like flashy additions to a pricey trip to suborbital heights, where they will float for approximately two minutes, with the entire experience lasting around 11 minutes.

Blue Origin resumed its private spaceflight ventures last year after a two-year hiatus caused by a malfunction during a New Shepard rocket launch. In September 2022, an uncrewed New Shepard flight ended in flames about a minute after liftoff, highlighting the risks involved in these rocket trips.

Gayle King expressed her mix of nerves and excitement on her daily show, CBS Mornings, saying, “I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m very nervous, but also very excited… I only ask people, when you see me on the street, please don’t tell me not to go… I just want people to cheer me on.” While it’s nice to have support, it’s hard not to advise against this venture.

Some private missions have included scientific payloads to conduct research in microgravity environments. However, this particular mission seems more focused on promoting an all-female crew led by Sánchez, with the goal of challenging their perspectives, empowering them to share their stories, and creating a lasting impact, as stated by Blue Origin.

Many of the mission’s objectives could be achieved without the hefty price tag of a seat on New Shepard. The first seat on Blue Origin’s rocket was sold for $28 million in a global auction in 2021. Although the current price for a ticket on the company’s space tourism rides is not publicly disclosed, reports suggest it costs around $1.25 million.

Spaceflight should not be limited to celebrities like Perry. As a purist, it’s hard not to question what Perry’s connection to space is, especially during a time when NASA’s budget and workforce are under scrutiny. The goal is to make space more accessible, but we’re far from achieving that, and these exclusive trips are a reminder of the obstacles that still exist.

Private spaceflight is entering an era of excess, which may alienate people from the wonder and interest in exploring the cosmos. Instead of inspiring the masses, these extravagant trips might have the opposite effect, making space seem like an exclusive club for the wealthy and famous.