Welcome to the Celebrity Space Circus🚀
A pop star, a billionaire’s fiancée, a TV presenter have just touched down after a trip into space. It isn’t good.
I imagine the application process looked something like: “Do you know Jeff Bezos?” Check. “Do you have followers?” Double check.
Because this is where tech has ended up in 2025, and it’s telling.
Branding Before Science
The trip seemed designed to be a PR hit. I mean, why else would you take Katy Perry unless she is singing?
Who needs actual astronauts?
When they landed Bezos himself opened the capsule door, grinning like a kid at Disneyland. He welcomed back his bride-to-be from her gravity-defying adventure, and nobody mentioned the environmental cost. Everything and everybody happy.
Tech Got Too Big
Amazon have made an awesome amount of money. Some might say that they have avoided paying taxes, and expanded Bezos’ pockets to such an extent that he decided to create Blue Origin.
This started off as one billionaire’s plaything, and now if you have got $150,000 to spare you can ascend into the upper stratosphere and look down on the people who can’t afford rent, eggs, or healthcare.
It’s “empowering.” Because nothing says sustainable like launching yourself into the thermosphere while the climate collapses below.
The fact that the press isn’t criticizing this venture is telling because tech got too big, powerful and rich.
Too Much Power
Big Tech has now become entertainment. It’s a reality show where the only qualification to participate is obscene wealth or a verified blue check.
And if you think this doesn’t affect us software developers, think again.
We live in the era of performative actions. You don’t have to do things well, you just have to look like you’re doing them well, so remember to tell everyone about the bug you fixed. Much like sending a bunch of celebrities into space for no clear reason. You don’t need to do good work. You need to be seen to do good work.
I’ve seen so many performative code reviews where people nitpick just to be able to show that they are able to make a comment about work. It slows down the entire team, but people still do it to boost their own status in the organization.
In terms of social media, people are recording what a great coder they are on LinkedIn (constantly), and if you follow the right people on Instagram, they are there too…going on…and…on
Conclusion
So here we are. Tech billionaires playing astronauts, celebrities cosplaying scientists, and the rest of us watching it all unfold like it’s an episode of Black Mirror.
Space used to be a frontier for the best minds. Now it’s just another backdrop for influencer content. The line between innovation and indulgence has fully blurred, and we’re all expected to clap along because, hey, rockets go whoosh.
The next great leap for mankind? Apparently, it’s measured in Instagram engagement.