Parable of the Sower and the Escapism of Space Tourism

Space tourism thrives while inequality deepens, and Butler saw it coming.

On April 14, 2025, six women boarded Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and crossed the Kármán line, the official boundary of space, before returning to Earth 10 minutes later. The mission, dubbed NS-31, carried Lauren Sanchez (fiancée of Jeff Bezos), Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn. Interestingly, it was marketed to celebrate women’s achievement, resilience, and wonder.