After the world of space news was taken up with the story of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore being trapped in space for 286 days, the latest headline-grabbing tale is Blue Origin's historic all-female flight. The six-person crew was made up of Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, research scientist Amanda Nguyen, businesswoman Kerianne Flynn, and Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez.
The Blue Origin flight has stirred up plenty of controversy over its presumed cost and critiques from the likes of Olivia Munn, calling it gluttonous. With Amazon's Jeff Bezos being the second-richest man in the world, he's accused of using his immense wealth to push the space tourism industry at a time when many will argue the money could be spent better elsewhere.
Blue Origin Flight NS-31 has gone viral thanks to footage of Perry and King kissing the ground when they returned from space, Wendy's delivering a savage takedown of the "Firework" singer, and King's uncomfortable expression. Now, footage of Bezos is taking over the internet.
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The Blue Origin founder was captured falling to the ground as he rushed to meet Sánchez when she came out of the capsule following its bumpy landing. The 61-year-old business mogul can be seen excitedly circling the pod, even knocking on one of the windows before he face-plants it to the ground.
Although Bezos quickly stood up and dusted himself off to go and meet his fiancée, there were plenty of jokes about him 'falling' for Sánchez.
Posting about it online, one onlooker said: "Bezos was so excited to hug his fiancée post-landing, he tripped and hit the ground. Billionaire moves—grace not included."
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Another joked: "Amazon employee trips while accepting return package."
A third said: "Jeff Bezos trips and face-plants. First time it’s felt like he’s a normal person."
Someone else pointed out: "In his defense, he stepped in a big hole. It happens. Glad he didn’t break anything,”
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An emotional Sánchez spoke about her (brief) time in space, telling the crowds: "I can’t put it into words. We got to see the Moon...The Earth looked so quiet, I don’t think you could describe it."
Alongside King, she clapped back against critics, telling People how the trip got her 'fired up'. Speaking to the outlet, Sánchez explained: "I get really fired up. I would love to have them come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that don't just work here but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle.”
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Saying that those who worked on the mission love their jobs and how it's a 'big deal' for them, she concluded: "So when we hear comments like that, I just say, 'Trust me. Come with me. I'll show you what this is about, and it's, it's really eye-opening."
As for Bezos' unexpected trip, it turns out that even billionaires take a tumble like the rest of us.