Joe Rogan Mocks All-Women Blue Origin Flight as Space Tourism Debate Heats Up
Joe Rogan has ignited a fresh wave of criticism surrounding Blue Origin’s April 14 all-female spaceflight, questioning the legitimacy of calling its participants “astronauts” and mocking celebrity passenger Katy Perry. On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the podcast host took aim at what he portrayed as the superficial nature of the mission, sarcastically referring to Perry as “basically a guru now” and ridiculing the brevity and simplicity of the 11-minute suborbital flight.
Celebrity Spaceflight or Staged Spectacle?
The Blue Origin mission, which took six women including Katy Perry to the edge of space, lasted approximately 11 minutes and was fully automated. The participants received only 14 hours of training spread over two days. By contrast, NASA astronauts typically undergo years of intense physical, academic, and mission-specific preparation before being certified for spaceflight.
The stark difference in training and mission depth has led critics—including Rogan and several other celebrities—to question whether such passengers should be considered astronauts at all. Rogan compared their status unfavorably to that of traditional astronauts who often emerge from military aviation backgrounds and go through extensive vetting and training processes.
Rogan’s remarks are part of a broader backlash against what many view as a glorified PR stunt. Model Emily Ratajkowski described the launch as “beyond parody,” while actress Olivia Munn questioned the mission’s value in a time of economic uncertainty. Blue Origin has not released specific scientific objectives for the flight, further fueling criticism that it was more symbolic than substantive.
FAA Guidelines and the “Astronaut” Title
The debate over the term “astronaut” has been growing in recent years with the rise of commercial space tourism. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), travelers must surpass the 50-mile altitude threshold and play a significant role in flight operations or public safety to earn commercial astronaut wings. However, the FAA discontinued its astronaut wings program in 2022, now simply keeping a registry of those who’ve crossed the altitude threshold.
Despite reaching the designated altitude, Blue Origin’s passengers are not involved in piloting or mission-critical operations—making their qualifications largely symbolic. The FAA’s cessation of official designations underscores a growing gray area in defining the boundaries between trained astronauts and space tourists.
Katy Perry’s Post-Flight Reception
Public scrutiny intensified after Katy Perry’s return to Earth. During the flight, she sang What a Wonderful World and kissed the ground upon landing—acts that, while heartfelt, drew ridicule online. Fast-food chain Wendy’s joined in the online mockery, highlighting the awkward public reception.
Reports suggest Perry has expressed regret over making the event a spectacle, although she maintains that the experience was meaningful to her personally. A deeply symbolic element of her flight was a daisy flower she carried on board—a tribute to her daughter Daisy Dove Bloom. The flower, which she described as representing resilience and strength, also tied into her broader spiritual and symbolic worldview.
Defense and Fallout
Lauren Sánchez, who is deeply involved in Blue Origin and partner to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, defended the mission, claiming that critics “don’t fully grasp what’s happening here.” She suggested the all-women flight was meant to inspire and signal inclusivity in space access. Yet, public perception remains divided, particularly as the venture was undertaken during ongoing global economic hardships.
While some view the flight as a step toward democratizing space, others see it as a tone-deaf showcase of privilege. The tension between symbolic progress and meaningful achievement continues to fuel debate in an era when commercial spaceflight is evolving faster than the frameworks designed to define and regulate it.
As space tourism expands and more celebrities are expected to participate, questions of legitimacy, purpose, and value will only grow louder. For now, the all-women Blue Origin flight remains both a milestone and a flashpoint—lauded by some, lambasted by others, and forever part of the conversation about who gets to be called an astronaut.