Jeff Bezos’s push toward another Blue Origin human space flight has reportedly hit an unexpected snag due to a shortage of celebrities willing to sign on for the trip.
One of the trips last year sparked significant backlash against Bezos, as well as high-profile participants such as Katy Perry, who secured one of the highly coveted seats.
Now, celebrities are reportedly giving Jeff Bezos the cold shoulder, as the optics of such a trip are currently unfavorable, and few want to risk being caught up in another wave of criticism.
Celebrities Feel The ‘Optics Are Terrible Right Now’ For Another Jeff Bezos Blue Origin Trip
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According to sources speaking to Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop, Bezos is scrambling to find celebrity passengers for another Blue Origin space trip.
The billionaire tech entrepreneur’s multimillion-dollar project had an all-female crew that included Katy Perry, Bezos’ partner Lauren Sanchez, and Gayle King, who visited space last year.
However, upon their return, the crew faced heavy backlash for the under-11-minute trip, with many critics viewing it as a display of excess rather than innovation. Some also raised concerns about the environmental impact, especially since the flight had no scientific purpose.
Now, potential celebrity participants who were initially interested in joining his proposed trip are reportedly backing out for various reasons.
“The optics are terrible right now,” one insider told the outlet. “Billionaires floating in space while the world burns? Celebrities don’t want that headline.”
The Situation Has Reportedly Left Jeff Bezos Surprised
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The celebrities’ refusal to sign up has reportedly left Bezos stunned, as in the previous year, he had more than enough people eager to travel to space.
“A year ago, people were begging for a seat,” a source further remarked. “Now their publicists won’t even return the call.”
While Bezos could certainly move forward with the project, securing a celebrity passenger is reportedly fast becoming a far-fetched prospect.
“At this rate,” another insider joked, “he’s going to end up with Bethenny Frankel and Carrot Top.”
Celebrities Are Reportedly Worried About The Potential Fallout If They Go On Jeff Bezos’ Space Trip
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For some stars, it’s not just about the optics; it’s about the potential fallout they could face if they choose to align themselves with Bezos.
“Nobody wants to be the meme,” one source remarked. “Especially not during an election year.”
Another added, “Celebrities are terrified of being dragged,” seemingly referencing how Perry and others were slammed after returning from the previous trip.
Blue Origin Has Placed A Pause On Human Spaceflight
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In the meantime, the next human flight will not be happening anytime soon, as Blue Origin plans to pause such missions for at least two years.
According to USA Today, all future human flights are now on hold as the company shifts its focus to developing vehicles and technologies for upcoming lunar missions.
The company last conducted a human spaceflight in January, carrying six people on board, including a Blue Origin employee.
“As we enter 2026, we’re focused on continuing to deliver transformational experiences for our customers through the proven capability and reliability of New Shepard,” Phil Joyce, a senior vice president at the company, said in a January 30 press release after the last flight.
Joyce added, “We are grateful for our astronaut customers who put their trust in our team to bring this experience into reality.”
Blue Origin Intends To Deploy A Massive Satellite Constellation, TerraWave
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Away from human spaceflight, Blue Origin is aiming to push the boundaries of technology with the launch of a massive satellite constellation known as TerraWave.
The project is being positioned as a direct rival to Starlink from SpaceX and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and is reportedly designed to deliver ultra-fast, secure internet connectivity to major enterprises and government clients.
TerraWave is said to consist of 5,280 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and 128 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, built to provide a combination of radio frequency (RF) and laser-based communications. This multi-orbit setup is intended to ensure system backup while delivering extremely high data speeds.
It will also offer speeds of up to 144 gigabits per second per user in LEO, and as much as 6 terabits per second through its advanced MEO optical links.
The project is expected to begin deployment in late 2027, barring any delays caused by technical challenges.