No more Commercial Space Astronaut Wings after this year because FAA has been handing them out like candy
- Reference: 1639421108
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/12/13/commercial_space_astronaut_wings/
- Source link:
"The Astronaut Wings program, created in 2004, served its original purpose to bring additional attention to this exciting endeavour," said FAA associate administrator Wayne Monteith, adding: "Now it's time to offer recognition to a larger group of adventurers daring to go to space."
While people reaching 50 statute miles on an FAA-licensed or permitted launch or re-entry will no longer receive a badge, they will still be added to an [1]FAA database recognising those achieving spaceflight.
[2]
The original purpose of the programme, currently enjoyed by 24 individuals, was to give a nod to pilots and flight crew who furthered the FAA's mission to promote the development of human-ferrying space vehicles. The FAA said it expects new additions to increase dramatically in the coming years, so the regulatory body's vision is "largely fulfilled."
The FAA expects the commercial human spaceflight industry to continue to grow and the number of people launching to space to increase dramatically in the coming years.
Some 15 of the 24 already documented are from flights taking place in the second half of 2021 alone. When you add to that the crew, inclusive of NFL player and TV celebrity Michael Strahan, Alan Shephard's daughter and STEM champion Laura Shepard Churchley, as well as four others who went up via Blue Origin over the weekend, this year's additions make up more than two-thirds of all commercial space adventurers.
The [3]#NS19 crew has completed training and are go for launch. Live broadcast begins tomorrow at 7:15 am CST / 13:15 UTC on [4]https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr [5]#GradatimFerociter [6]pic.twitter.com/50woBbGge9 — Blue Origin (@blueorigin) [7]December 10, 2021
One can see how the consistency and regularity of commercial spaceflight has led the FAA to believe the programme's mission has been accomplished.
[8]What will life in orbit look like after the ISS? NASA hands out new space station contracts
[9]NASA delays crewed Moon landing until 2025, citing technical infeasibility
[10]Another 100 space tourists buy a ride from Virgin Galactic: $25k of that ticket deposit is 'non-refundable'
[11]Shatner breaks the age barrier, goes where no nonagenarian has gone before with Blue Origin rocket trip
The FAA was already on a path towards philosophically redefining the criteria needed to be an astronaut before giving up on the wings altogether. Last July, the organisation released a [12]five-page document [PDF] narrowing who was qualified to receive the wings. This required participants to undergo training and complete activities "essential to public safety or contributed to human space flight safety."
The FAA has decided to let any joyriders or pay-to-play participants who venture into space get their pin until the end of the year. The programme is ending soon, so it seems they figured – why get strict now? ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.faa.gov/space/licenses/human_spaceflight/recognition/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YbfQn3p5AmdlPAKCm1XRxwAAAE8&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[4] https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr
[5] https://twitter.com/hashtag/GradatimFerociter?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[6] https://t.co/50woBbGge9
[7] https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1469401640201601029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/03/nasa_space_station/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/10/nasa_delayed_artemis_crewed_moon/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/09/virgin_galactic_q3/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/13/shatner_space_flight/
[12] https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/FAA_Order_8800.2.pdf
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
@NoneSuch
I tend to agree with you. Maybe they should have had 2 versions. The existing one for the pilots, and one with folded wings for the tourists. The main problem with the scheme is that makes no distinction between getting 50 miles above the earth's surface for a few minutes, and actually getting to a stable orbit,
Raising the bar
I feel like there is something to be said for raising the bar for the astronaut wings to the orbital level. I also agree that their should be a distinction between flight crew, and passengers. The pilots for Virgins joy ride sled clearly aren't passive ballast on their flights, and deserve recognition like military pilots that are operating at altitude but on suborbital trajectories.
I feel like passengers should get recognition for completing meaningful science or technical roles as well, but tourists, even orbital ones, shouldn't get the same honors as the flight crew.
Airplane pilots get wings, passengers get a complementary drink and some salty nuts. Though that would make a funny mission patch I guess.
Re: @NoneSuch
"makes no distinction between getting 50 miles above the earth's surface for a few minutes, and actually getting to a stable orbit"
Exactly. Going up 50 miles and coming back down again is roughly the rich-person's version of a little kiddie's bounce-house. Rides on the Vomit Comet provide roughly the same entertainment, last longer, and are a hell of a lot cheaper. These folks are just passengers. Perhaps a patch with a sack of potatoes on it?
Re: @Jake
Not a sack of potatoes, a Mr.Potato Head clutching a fistful of dollars.
will no longer receive a badge
Well in that case I've changed my mind, and I'm NOT GOING!
Re: will no longer receive a badge
Well, in keeping with the commercialisation of space, why should the FAA have a monopoly on the granting of wings? Simply send 10 bitcoin and you'll be issued your wings. Assuming I can attach a pair to Blue Origin's thruster without breaching obscenity laws. But then I guess BO and SpaceX can sell their own commemorative ones anyway.
Personally, I think the FAA should keep them, but tighten the criteria to orbits and beyond.
Re: will no longer receive a badge
It's ok now that Shatner has one...
Astronaut wings should only go out to people professionally employed as astronauts who have completed one complete orbit around the Earth. No space tourists allowed.