Commercial astronaut

Criteria

The definition of "astronaut" and the criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale defines spaceflight as any flight over 100 km of altitude. In the United States, professional, military, and commercial astronauts who travel above an altitude of 50 mi are eligible to be awarded astronaut wings. Until 2003, professional space travelers were sponsored and trained exclusively by governments, whether by the military or by civilian space agencies. However, with the first sub-orbital flight by the privately funded Scaled Composites Tier One program in 2004, the commercial astronaut category was created. The next commercial program to achieve sub-orbital flight was Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo program in 2018. Criteria for commercial astronaut status in other countries have yet to be made public.

By 2021, with the substantial increase in commercial spaceflight—with the first suborbital passenger flight by both Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo and Blue Origin's New Shepard in July, and with SpaceX's first orbital private spaceflight completed on September 18, 2021—the roles and functions of people going to space are expanding. Criteria for the broader designation "astronaut" has become open to interpretation. Even in the US alone, the "FAA, U.S. military and NASA all have different definitions of what it means to be designated as an 'astronaut' and none of them fit perfectly with the way Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic are doing business." SpaceNews reported that "Blue Origin awarded their version of astronaut wings" to the four participants of the first Blue Origin passenger flight but was unclear on whether these included the FAA astronaut designation.

FAA Commercial Astronaut rating

With the advent of private commercial space flight ventures in the U.S., the FAA has been faced with the task of developing a certification process for the pilots of commercial spacecraft. The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 established the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation and required companies to obtain a launch license for vehicles, but at the time crewed commercial flight – and the licensing of crewmembers – was not considered. The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act has led to the issuance of draft guidelines by the FAA in February 2005 for the administration of vehicle and crew certifications. Currently, the FAA has not issued formal regulatory guidance for the issuance of a Commercial Astronaut Certificate, but as an interim measure, has established the practice of awarding "Commercial Astronaut Wings" to commercial pilots who have demonstrated the requisite proficiency. The content of 14 CFR Part 460 implies that an instrument rating and second-class medical certificate issued within the 12 months prior to the proposed qualifying flight will be included as a minimum standard.

The FAA's Commercial Astronaut Wings Program is designed to recognize flight crewmembers who further the FAA's mission to promote the safety of vehicles designed to carry humans. Astronaut Wings are given to flight crew who have demonstrated a safe flight to and return from space on an FAA/AST licensed mission. To be eligible for FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings, commercial launch crewmembers must meet the following criteria:

• Meet the requirements for flight crew qualifications and training under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 460.
• Demonstrated flight beyond 50 statute miles above the surface of the Earth as flight crew on an FAA/AST licensed or permitted launch or reentry vehicle.
• Demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human spaceflight safety.

Astronaut Wings

Main article: United States Astronaut Badge

The emblem for the first set of FAA Commercial Astronaut Wings issued in 2004 has in its center a green globe on a blue background, with the three-prong astronaut symbol superimposed on top. In yellow block text around the globe are the words "Commercial Space Transportation" in all capital letters. In a gold ring outside the blue are the words "Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration" in black. Beginning with the wings awarded for flights in 2018, the design has been simplified to be the astronaut symbol, surrounded by the words "Commercial Space Transportation", all in gold on a black background. In December 2021, the FAA reconsidered the Commercial Astronaut Wings program as commercial space travel increased, and decided to end the program in January 2022. Despite this, the FAA will still continue to recognize future commercial astronauts and will maintain a list of commercial astronauts who have flown to an altitude of 50 miles or higher.

List of commercial astronauts

Beginning in January 2022, the FAA started to maintain a list of individuals who have received FAA human spaceflight recognition. As of July 2022, there are the names of 45 individuals on that list that qualify for FAA human spaceflight recognition, but only 30 individuals on that list received FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings.

References

References

1. (2016-03-20). "SpaceShipOne".
2. Sheetz, Michael. (2018-12-13). "Virgin Galactic flies its first astronauts to the edge of space, taking one step closer to space tourism".
3. Kramer, Miriam. (20 July 2021). "New wrinkle for space tourism: Deciding who counts as an astronaut". [[Axios (website).
4. Foust, Jeff. (20 July 2021). "New Shepard astronauts rave about suborbital spaceflight experience as Bezos faces backlash". [[SpaceNews]].
5. [http://www.faa.gov/airports/regional_guidance/northwest_mountain/airports_news_events/annual_conference/2005/media/commercial_space_nield.ppt ''Commercial Space Flight - New Legislation and the Industry and Developments which Impact Commercial Airports'', FAA NW Mountain Region 2005-04-05, accessed 2007-02-20]{{dead link. (November 2017)
6. "IAC-13-E6.4.5 – Industry Standards for Commercial Space Transportation".
7. "FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program".
8. (10 December 2021). "First on CNN: The US gives Bezos, Branson and Shatner their astronaut wings". CNN.
9. [https://phys.org/news/2021-12-faa-commercial-astronaut-wings.html FAA: No more commercial astronaut wings, too many launching] [[Phys.org]]
10. [https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-faa-ends-commercial-astronaut-wings-20211210-v3q7afg65zbjfbcvk3itar4sf4-story.html FAA to no longer award commercial astronaut wings] [[Orlando Sentinel]]
11. "FAA Commercial Human Spaceflight Recognition". [[Federal Aviation Administration]].
12. "FAA Commercial Human Spaceflight Recognition". [[Federal Aviation Administration]].
13. "Press Release – Statement of FAA Assistant Administrator Bailey Edwards on the Successful Virgin Galactic Flight".
14. "FAA Commercial Human Spaceflight Recognition".
15. Foust, Jeff. (2021-12-10). "FAA to end commercial astronaut wings program". SpaceNews.
16. "Three Virgin Galactic Crew Presented with Commercial Astronaut Wings at 35th National Space Symposium".