Mae Jemison Highlights Language in Spaceflight Debate

Blue Origin's recent spaceflight, celebrated for its all-female crew including celebrities like Katy Perry and Gayle King, faced criticism from some public figures who questioned the environmental impact and purpose of such missions. Mae Jemison, the first black woman to go into space, corrected CBS anchor Vladimir Duthiers for using 'mankind' instead of 'humankind' during an interview, emphasizing the importance of inclusive language in space exploration discussions. The mission, which crossed the Karman line, was Blue Origin's eleventh human flight and included diverse participants such as civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe. Despite some backlash, the flight was defended by participants like King, who argued it expanded perspectives on space travel. Jemison highlighted the broader implications of space travel for understanding our world and its impact on everyday life.