The US Federal Aviation Agency has clarified the definition of an astronaut. Added to this is the requirement that the person in question be part of the control crew of a spacecraft or contribute to flight safety.
This is the first change in the definition of an astronaut since the beginning of the Federal Aviation Agency’s program to support commercial flights in 2004.
It turns out that the new requirements were set on the day of the first flight of billionaire Jeff Bezos to the edge of space. This happened on July 20, when the richest man on the planet, his brother Mark, 82-year-old Wally Funk and 18-year-old Oliver Damen from the Netherlands flew to the edge of space – 80 km above the earth’s surface. After the flight, which lasted only 10:22 minutes, they were all titled astronauts, with Mrs. Funk being named the oldest astronaut and Damen the man who improved German Titov’s record for the youngest man in space.
In fact, according to the new definition, participants in private flights must reach the limit in question of 80 km above the Earth, but also during the flight to perform activities that are important for public safety or the safety of manned flights.
The first condition was met by both Bezos and his direct competitor and also billionaire Richard Branson.
The last and five of his companions reached an altitude of 86 km on July 11 with the ship Virgin Galastis over the desert in New Mexico. The ship was taken upstairs with a specially designed aircraft.
It is the latter condition that will cause Bezos, Branson and their satellites not to be recognized as astronauts by the US Federal Aviation Agency. The most accurate definition of them is space tourists.
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