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Opinion: Don’t take a 10-minute joyride into space and tell us you are inspirational pioneers

Blue Origin via AP / The recent Blue Origin flight crew included, first row, seated, from left: Lauren Sanchez and Kerianne Flynn. Standing in back, from left: Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe.
Blue Origin via AP / The recent Blue Origin flight crew included, first row, seated, from left: Lauren Sanchez and Kerianne Flynn. Standing in back, from left: Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe. Blue Origin via AP / The recent Blue Origin flight crew included, first row, seated, from left: Lauren Sanchez and Kerianne Flynn. Standing in back, from left: Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe.

By Clint Cooper 5 min read

Count us among those who are not overwhelmed by the 10-minute joyride into space by six rich or sponsored women last week.

By the publicity in some circles, one might have thought this was the first person in space, the first woman in space or the first minority in space.

It was none of those.

OK, well it was the first pop music star in space, the first friend of Oprah in space and the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space.

We remember several decades ago when it was predicted space tourism would become common — at least for those who could afford it.