Democratizing space travel
This morning I watched the launch of Blue Origin's first human space flight. The New Shepard spacecraft landed safely and as I write the post-flight news conference is happening live. I've been a fan of space exploration all of my life. So I follow events like this with interest whenever I can. We have friends who work at Blue Origin's headquarters in Kent, Washington, just a few miles from us. I know that many people have worked hard for years to make this moment possible. I want to congratulate the entire Blue Origin team on this achievement. I am delighted that Wally Funk was given the opportunity to ride in space. This was an opportunity she and the other woman (the now-famous Mercury 13) who trained as astronauts in the 1960s, was denied by multiple administrations including the Lyndon Johnson administration. I am grateful that Jeff Bezos gave Wally that opportunity, and in doing so, corrected a historical injustice. It's unfortunate that it took a random act of ki...