In commercial space flights (especially those with celebrities), we often overlook the critical scientific work being conducted above our heads. While the media fixates on celebrity moments and viral headlines, there’s a significance of these missions that get overshadowed. Aisha Bowe — an aerospace engineer, two-time tech founder and mentor of mine — was aboard the NS-31 mission, yet instead of the recognition she deserves, the focus fell elsewhere.
On the same flight that Katy Perry brought a daisy symbolizing love for her daughter, Aisha conducted three pivotal experiments. These weren’t just “fun” activities in zero gravity — these were groundbreaking studies that contribute to our understanding of space travel, human health and agriculture. But why didn’t this make the headlines? Because science doesn’t usually generate the “click-baity” headlines we’ve gotten accustomed to.
The NS-31 flight was designed as a space tourism experience, offering all the excitement of a thrill ride. This suborbital mission, aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, allowed engers to experience a few minutes of weightlessness as the capsule ed the Kármán line — the internationally recognized boundary of space. The flight also marked another step in Blue Origin’s broader goal of paving the way for commercial space travel and exploration.
Consider the public reaction when male celebrities like Michael Strahan or William Shatner flew into space (without any experiments conducted). Their flights were celebrated, with little to no backlash. In contrast, when six women did so — aboard the same mission years later — the response was marked by excessive vitriol.
Aisha Bowe, part of this mission, was contributing work that could bring humanity closer to sustainable space exploration. Yet the media focused on the spectacle. To understand this better, let’s look at it historically. Just as the 1920s saw barnstorming in aviation — thrilling and risky performances that dazzled crowds — I’d compare the New Shepard mission to a similar spectacle in space travel. In the 1920s, aviators captivated the public with stunts that, though dangerous and probably considered unnecessary to most, laid the groundwork for modern aviation. Today, billionaires like Jeff Bezos have made space travel accessible to those who can afford it. But just as early aviators paved the way for commercial aviation, today’s commercial space flights are actually shaping the future of space exploration.
Aisha Bowe didn’t just participate as a enger on this spaceflight — she played a key role in valuable, groundbreaking science that will impact future space missions. Aisha leveraged her 11-minute space flight to run three important experiments. First, she participated in NASA’s TRISH #EXPAND program, wearing a BioButton device to track her vital signs before, during, and after the flight, providing crucial data on how the human body responds to spaceflight, critical for future lunar and Martian missions. She also helped experiment with Winston-Salem State University to study how microgravity and radiation impact plant growth, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes, Arabidopsis, and chickpeas, ing sustainable space agriculture. Finally, Aisha assisted in testing the Fluid Processing Apparatus, a groundbreaking scientific tool that will aid biological and medical experiments in space.
As an aerospace engineer myself, I’m excited for America to rethink how we cover space-related events in mainstream media. We also need to recognize those making meaningful contributions to space exploration — in a faster, discreet yet disruptive way. Headlines may have emphasized Katy Perry and Gayle King’s reaction, making it seem like a mere enger experience. Still, similar to Katherine Johnson’s story, people may not realize the profound impact Aisha made during her flight. Like barnstorming in aviation, these missions are more than spectacles. They are laying the groundwork for the future of space exploration, and Aisha’s contributions are part of that transformative journey.
This isn’t just me being a fangirl or a mentee of Aisha’s — this is about acknowledging that her contributions to the space science community are indisputable. While her experiments on the NS-31 flight may not have received the attention they deserve, I can attest firsthand that her work is long overdue for recognition.
LeFlore is an aerospace engineer and co-founder of Greater Than Tech, a nonprofit dedicated to introducing underserved youth to immersive educational programs in science, technology, engineering, math and entrepreneurship, and lives in East Village.
