New US rules don’t count Jeff Bezos as an ‘astronaut’

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has tightened the eligibility requirements to be considered an ‘astronaut.’
• The changes were made following the recent private space flights of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic in the past weeks.
• Both businessmen were on the crusade to spearhead the space tourism industry.

The US, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has toughened the definition to be called a legitimate commercial astronaut amid the recent pilot commercial space flights initiated by private companies Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin.

The Commercial Astronaut Wings Program eligibility requirements were updated by the FAA last week.

In a statement, the agency said that for somebody to be given the title as commercial astronaut, he or she should engage in efforts that are “essential to public safety,’ or contribute to space flight safety.

“In order to maintain the prestige of Commercial Space Astronaut Wings, the FAA may further refine the eligibility requirements at any time as it deems appropriate,” the FAA said. 

The new policy meant that individuals who simply join and sit in the flight could not simply be considered as astronauts.

 It was the first time that the administration has updated its wings eligibility since 2004.

The new ruling was made shortly after the flight of Blue Origin’s founder Jeff Bezos and his three crews. They could have been recipients of the commercial astronaut wings since the previous requirement only required that an individual should reach an altitude of at least 80.5 kilometers, the boundary of space recognized by the US. 

Speaking with CNN, a representative from the FAA said that there was no present nomination under review, which might be required to gain the wings.

Earlier this month, Bezos’ Blue origin and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin galactic both had a successful flight to space as both billionaire businessmen aimed at opening the commercial space industry. 

Virgin Galactic has announced that it already had over 600 reservations from future space tourists. Tickets are priced at around $250,000 per head. Meanwhile, Blue Origin is also expected to launch their ticket sales anytime soon, but the cost is yet to be publicized.

Both Bezos and Branson have faced backlash for boosting their space tourism ventures and commercialization efforts while many people were enduring their lives amid the pandemic.

Source: ABC News