A science reporter argued in a Big Think article published Monday that the first crewed mission to Mars should be all-female.
Journalist Ross Pomeroy, an editor at RealClearScience, claimed his proposal had nothing to do with fairness, but was about “using every possible advantage.” Women, Pomeroy claimed, have the advantage of being “better suited to long-duration space travel than men” and would “likely require significantly fewer resources.”
According to its mission statement, Big Think aims to “introduce you to the brightest minds and boldest ideas of our time, inviting viewers to explore new ways to work, live, and understand our ever-changing world.” The article was published in the site’s “Hard Science” section.
As the piece spread on Twitter, multiple users mocked the scientific rigor of the piece.
Some predicted the communication problems that would ensue with an all-female team team of astronauts:
“Houston, we have a problem”
“What’s the problem?”
“Never mind, it’s fine”
“No really what is it?”
“Nothing”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s not what you said its how you said it” https://t.co/b4ta9hzp3M
— Meghan Maureen (@Keggs719) May 2, 2023
Astronaut: No it’s fine
Houston: No for real, what’s wrong?
Astronaut: It’s okay, I swear.
Houston: FOR REAL WHAT’S GOING ON?!
Astronaut: IM UPSET WITH YOU
— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) May 2, 2023
Others anticipated that a rescue mission would become necessary:
First all-female mission to Mars followed immediately by first all-male rescue mission to Mars https://t.co/vAizyNwpty
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) May 2, 2023
One Twitter user compared landing the ship to choosing a restaurant:
“Do you have a preference for a landing spot?”
“Oh, anywhere will do.”
“OK, let’s shoot for that flat area north of your position.”
“Oh my god, no way. Anywhere but there!”
— Big Red TLC ♿️ (@Bigredtlc54) May 3, 2023
Others guessed who might join the crew given the inability of politicians and scientists to even define what a woman is:
dylan mulvaney will probably be involved somehow.
— AMERICARNAGE 🎸🦅 (@TheAmericarnage) May 2, 2023
Things weren’t all fun and games, though. Some users just couldn’t take a joke:
The article is f***ed up but what’s even worse are the comments on it. Calling women emotionally unstable & couldn’t do things as well as men etc.. I usually expect such BS from men but never thought women shit on their own sex like that just for few likes from sexists..🤦🏽♀️
— Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) May 2, 2023