Prince William belittled the recent frenzy of space tourism on Thursday shortly after Star Trek’s William Shatner dipped into space on Jeff Bezos’ rocket.
The Duke of Cambridge was speaking to the BBC about his initiative to “repair our planet” and encouraged billionaires to get their heads out of the clouds.
“We need some of the world’s greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live,” the prince said.
Shatner’s journey to space was the latest flight by Bezo’s Blue Origin venture.
The Amazon honcho is competing with Richard Branson and Tesla’s Elon Musk to turn the great beyond into a lucrative industry.
The prince said our best and brightest should be “trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live.”
He said it was “quite crucial to be focusing on this [planet] rather than giving up and heading out into space to try and think of solutions for the future.”
Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin and CEO of Amazon, speaks about the future plans of Blue Origin.REUTERSWilliam also mentioned “climate anxiety” among the new generations who believe their “futures are basically threatened the whole time.”
“It’s very unnerving and it’s very, you know, anxiety making,” he said.
The foundation supported by Prince William and Kate Middleton will award the Earthshot Prize to five individuals who can help solve the oncoming crisis of climate change.
Shatner’s foray into space on Wednesday hoisted him and the crew more than 60 miles above Earth. The capsule spent about three minutes in zero gravity above the Karman Line — which is the internationally recognized boundary of space — before heading back to Earth.
Shatner — who played Captain Kirk in the science fiction saga — joins Branson, Musk, and others who shelled out $28 million to reach the sky’s limit.
Although Branson is knighted and Shatner “boldly” made the quest, the final frontier should not expect a royal visit anytime soon.
William said he had “absolutely no interest” in making the trek and questioned the carbon footprint of the pricey flight.
Star Trek actor William Shatner speaks during a media availability on the landing pad of Blue Origin’s New Shepard after flying into space on October 13, 2021.Getty Images
