Pop star Katy Perry is facing backlash after her recent trip to space with Blue Origin, raising concerns over the environmental impact of such space missions. The launch on Monday, which transported Perry alongside five other individuals, is estimated to have released approximately 1,102 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent – a figure comparable to driving a gasoline-powered car for 2.5 million miles. This has led to critics labelling her a 'hypocrite', especially given her previous advocacy for climate action.
The mission, which lasted 11 minutes, took Perry and her crew to an altitude of 62 miles above Earth's surface. Perry sang “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong while taking in the views from space. Speaking about her choice of song, Perry remarked, “It's about this wonderful world we see out there and appreciate. This is all for the benefit of Earth.” However, this statement has been met with scepticism following the revelations about the flight’s greenhouse gas emissions.
In a poignant video from 2015, which has gone viral since the launch, Perry highlights the adverse effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, particularly children. She stated, “Hi, I'm Katy Perry. Let's take a journey to see how man-made climate change is hurting children around the world," emphasising the dire consequences such as tropical weather devastation and flooding, which echo the same issues she addressed during her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador beginning in 2013.
Even though Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket uses a combustion process that primarily produces water vapour, which does not contribute to carbon emissions directly, scientists warn that water vapour released into the stratosphere can have climatic repercussions. Eloise Marais, a professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality at University College London, explained that it alters stratospheric chemistry, depleting the ozone layer and creating clouds that can further impact climate patterns. The global impact of rocket launches, including the manufacturing process and associated ground emissions, adds to the debate surrounding environmental sustainability in space travel.
Perry’s mission included prominent figures such as Lauren Sanchez, TV presenter Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn. Together, the crew successfully completed the first all-female space mission since Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight in 1963.
Despite the historical significance of the mission and the acclaim Perry has received for her advocacy on climate issues, many users on social media have expressed frustration at the disconnect between her environmental rhetoric and participation in a mission that exacerbates carbon emissions. One user commented, “Katy Perry kissing the ground and saying, 'We need to save Mother Earth' after she went to space for 30 seconds... is a choice.”
Following the completion of the flight around 9:40 a.m. ET, Perry and fellow astronauts safely landed just a few miles from the launch site. The mission was marked by its brief duration and high speeds, with the rocket reaching over twice the speed of sound during ascent, generating considerable physical forces on the crew.
As the conversation surrounding climate change continues to evolve, Perry’s space travel raises pertinent questions about the environmental implications of such ventures and the broader responsibilities of public figures in the ongoing climate discourse.
Source: Noah Wire Services