Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear Islander
The term you should be trying to keep untarnished is "NASA Astronaut". As far as the general term astronaut goes the ship has already sailed. The FAA regulates commercial spaceflight and they have determined that anyone flying higher than 92.6 kilometers is an astronaut. We will be receiving FAA Astronaut Wings.
None of this has anything to do with speed limits.
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Bear Islander...
I can't believe you don't research before you post....
You are wrong yet again... well at least your wrong according to the Virgin Galactic website.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsite/index.php
http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsi...Picture&src=26
"Will I officially become an Astronaut?
Yes. The term Astronaut is a derived from Greek words Ajstron ("star") and nautes ("sailor"). The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary. In the United States, people who travel above an altitude of 50 miles (80 km) are designated as astronauts. The FAI defines spaceflight as over 100 km (62 miles).Virgin Galactic passengers will receive their Virgin Galactic astronaut wings and
may recieve FAA astronaut wings as well."
The key there is "may recieve". The FAA has only awarded 2 people with Commercial Astronaut Wings, and they were the pilots in command of the spacecraft. I highly doubt the FAA is going to award wings to hundreds of people just because they were wealthy enough to afford a $200,000 space ticket. Of course for $200K Virgin Galactic should give you a little gold trinket!
Have fun with those Virgin Galactic Wings!
Woodsy