What's an astronaut?

[Istbor]

I have piloted a barge on the river before, but I wouldn't call myself a barge pilot. I WOULD like to claim the title of Astronaut however, if I ever got into space.

 

[Marc_C]

Maybe the word is becoming obsolete because going to space no longer requires extensive training.

I would just use sci-fi words like: Spaceship pilot, spaceship engineer, spaceship technician, spaceship medic, spaceship passenger. The word 'spaceship' would be omitted in regular conversion just like with cruise boats and airplanes. "I work in space, I'm a shuttle pilot."

 

[Zardnaar]

You jump on a 747 and fly to wherever. Doesn't make you a pilot right?

 

[Janx]

I think that's it: Are you paid to be there or did you pay to be there? I can pilot a boat, but if I'm on a ferry (or a cruise ship) I'm not a member of the crew.

So Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos will never be astronauts, because they literally paid to engineer their own rockets and craft and as such aren't employees?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

So Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos will never be astronauts, because they literally paid to engineer their own rockets and craft and as such aren't employees?

That argument is a bit of a stretch because it is so unlikely to ever happen, but sure, if you are both so fabulously wealthy that you pay for the thing and yet such a keener that you both gain the skillset and become a true part of the crew, you can call yourself an astronaut.

 

[Ryujin]

That argument is a bit of a stretch because it is so unlikely to ever happen, but sure, if you are both so fabulously wealthy that you pay for the thing and yet such a keener that you both gain the skillset and become a true part of the crew, you can call yourself an astronaut.

Or you could just declare yourself the captain of the vessel, by default making you an "astronaut." "Peons, do that thing, that makes us go."

 

[Bagpuss]

You jump on a 747 and fly to wherever. Doesn't make you a pilot right?

So are you saying only the person in direct control of the spacecraft is the astronaut?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Or you could just declare yourself the captain of the vessel, by default making you an "astronaut." "Peons, do that thing, that makes us go."

Sure, the media (that you paid for) can call you an astronaut and anyone who buys the hype will too. Your crew will call you an astronaut to your face to keep their jobs, and anyone in the know will put "finger quotes" on the name behind your back!

 

[Ryujin]

Sure, the media (that you paid for) can call you an astronaut and anyone who buys the hype will too. Your crew will call you an astronaut to your face to keep their jobs, and anyone in the know will put "finger quotes" on the name behind your back!

You mean like most of us already do with our "managers"?

 

[Tonguez]

Astronaut = Crew
Scientist = Specialist Crew = Astronaut
Passenger = Not Crew = not an Astronaut

So Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos will never be astronauts, because they literally paid to engineer their own rockets and craft and as such aren't employees?

Bruce Ismay owned the Titanic he was a passenger on the ship and is remembered as a Businessman not as a Sailor