FAA may not recognize Blue Origin crew as astronauts

Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, and the rest of the Blue Origin crew may not be officially recognized as astronauts by the FAA after their recent spaceflight. The FAA's rules require crew members to demonstrate activities essential to public or human spaceflight safety, which the all-female crew may not have fulfilled. The New Shepard rocket flew autonomously, and the FAA ended its astronaut wings program in 2021. While the FAA may not recognize them, the Merriam-Webster definition of an astronaut could apply. The distinction has sparked debate amid the rise of space tourism and criticism of such ventures.