Jeff Bezos not an astronaut, according to new FAA policy

[TaylorSwift 162,352]

FAA Changes Policy On Who Qualifies For Commercial Astronaut Wings To Fly In Space On Same Day As Blue Origin Space Flight

On the same day as Blue Origin’s first manned space flight, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a change to its Commercial Astronaut Wings program for the first time in 17 years.

The US government might not officially recognize that billionaires Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson became astronauts when they exploded in space earlier this month.
 

Before the FAA released the new restrictions, Bezos, along with 3 other teammates (his brother, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen), who flew with the Blue Origin founder, would have qualified to receive commercial astronaut wings from the FAA, because travelers flew at an altitude of at least 50 miles (80.5 kilometers), the limit of space recognized by the US.

Effective July 20, the FAA issued one more critical criterion: Commercial launch crew members must also demonstrate "activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety".

source source

Wally Funk, who trained to be an astronaut in the 1960s but didn’t get to go to space back then, may still get her astronaut wings.
The agency is allowed to give honorary wings to “individuals who demonstrated extraordinary contribution or beneficial service to the commercial human space flight industry”, but who didn’t satisfy the other eligibility requirements.  

source

 

[RahrahWitch 6,985]

 

18 minutes ago, Teletubby said:

crew members must also demonstrate "activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety".

So these billionaires can't just buy the title of astronaut? 

[judaspriest 934]

This is just in: Demi Lovato > Jeff Bezos

[A MESS 3,938]

Imagine being so pathetic...poor Bezos and co

[River 127,344]

"space"

good honestly, you can't buy titles..

[RAMROD 117,011]

That stuff not gonna be holding so much gravitas much longer now that space traveling is about to be a thing. Astronauts might only be so downgraded as a name to call a pilot of any space ship in the near future 

[Economy 52,843]

11 hours ago, A MESS said:

Imagine being so pathetic...poor Bezos and co

Whats so pathetic about not being called an astronaut when u go to space? By this definition and standard that only proffessionals get the title almost none of the other future passangers will be called that either

[tylerjs 6,093]

1 hour ago, Economy said:

Whats so pathetic about not being called an astronaut when u go to space? By this definition and standard that only proffessionals get the title almost none of the other future passangers will be called that either

no baby the pathetic part is being jeff bezos in general

[Economy 52,843]

11 hours ago, soularpower said:

no baby the pathetic part is being jeff bezos in general

Oh. The OP was about the Astranaut so i thought u were talking about that

[judaspriest 934]

On 7/23/2021 at 3:01 PM, RAMROD said:

That stuff not gonna be holding so much gravitas much longer now that space traveling is about to be a thing. Astronauts might only be so downgraded as a name to call a pilot of any space ship in the near future 

Nah I don't buy the whole "space travel is coming" thing they have going on now. He's just another detached rich man who thinks he can bend the laws of reality

[tylerjs 6,093]

1 hour ago, Economy said:

Oh. The OP was about the Astranaut so i thought u were talking about that

Lol I think they were I was just being sassy 

[Guest]

Same energy as:

Donald Trump not the president, according to studies

[A MESS 3,938]

14 hours ago, Economy said:

Whats so pathetic about not being called an astronaut when u go to space? By this definition and standard that only proffessionals get the title almost none of the other future passangers will be called that either

I just think people who studied and worked hard and were useful to the travel are astronauts while people spending their money to sit and go 1 meter up in the sky are passengers

[Zilla 13,451]

I’m a massive space/space exploration/NASA nerd. I never agreed with giving anyone who bought their way or was invited to go to space astronaut wings. You’re not an astronaut, but a space traveler or tourist. You did nothing except fund the program or hop on the spacecraft.

To become a full-fledged astronaut, you have to take 2 years out of your life to train at least in the US NASA program. Meaning physical tests, mental tests, equipment failure tests (which is VERY possible on every mission), how to survive and adapt if something goes wrong, space flight and that’s the tip of the iceberg. I feel based on that, it’s a title earned not paid for. 

The ONLY person who’s qualified to be titled as an astronaut is Wally Funk. She went through the program when NASA wanted to see if women could pass the same tests as men and you bet she did and even excelled past some men. Then NASA killed the program and she never got to go to space. She’s the ONLY one because based on their criteria, she helped in leaps and bounds.
 

 

[Economy 52,843]

8 hours ago, A MESS said:

I just think people who studied and worked hard and were useful to the travel are astronauts while people spending their money to sit and go 1 meter up in the sky are passengers

I agree with that. Just dunno why that males it pathetic to be a passanger

 

Now whether or not an industry like this should exist is another matter. Imo its a huge waste of resources at this time and yet another burden to the environment

 

But i wouldnt call it pathetic. If i went into space id be only a passanger also