In an unexpected twist following their brief ten-minute space jaunt, celebrity “astronauts” are voicing their discontent over the backlash they’ve received regarding their vanity flights. Martha Stewart, a notable figure among them, recently took to social media to defend her experience. “Remember this,” she tweeted, reminding followers of her own zero-gravity flight in 2007, which lasted a substantial thirty minutes—far longer than the ten minutes associated with the recent trips.

The uproar intensified as Gail King, a prominent figure among the celebrity space travelers, passionately defended their journeys, insisting they should not be dismissed as mere “rides.” “This was not frivolous,” she asserted. “We duplicated the trajectory of Alan Shepard,” highlighting the legitimacy of their missions. Yet, her fervent rebuttal has only fueled the fire, attracting further ridicule from critics who argue that these space escapades amount to little more than lavish joyrides for the rich and famous.

Audience members are left questioning the significance of such flights when the likes of Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez are seen prioritizing selfies over the awe of space. The juxtaposition of their glamorous antics against the serious implications of space exploration has led to a wave of mockery, with critics labeling the flights as nothing more than extravagant publicity stunts.

As the conversation heats up, it’s clear that the celebrity space race has sparked a fierce debate over what it means to be an astronaut. The public is split, with some celebrating these figures as inspirations, while others see them as symbols of privilege and vanity. The discourse surrounding their journeys is evolving rapidly, and as these celebrities navigate the backlash, the future of celebrity space travel remains uncertain.