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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Snarf Zagyg" data-source="post: 8284532" data-attributes="member: 7023840">I mean ... I don't think the guy who misunderstood the physics of the catapult paid for that. Of course, there might have been some issue with the physics of it ... probably have to determine whether his individual body parts qualify as "astronauts."But no, that's not the dividing line- I mentioned stowaways are not normally considered astronauts (nor would they be "sailors"). It's whether you're a part of the working crew.At some point in the future, as space travel becomes even more normalized, there might more distinctions. For example, I don't think that the entire working crew of a cruise ship are considered sailors. But at this time, given the customary usage of the term that has traditionally encompassed all those who are part of the working crew going into space (given that the spaces are at a premium, and even those who have been provided space before, such as the (in?)famous example of Christa McAuliffe, were provided training and duties to perform as part of the crew, which differentiates them from passengers/stowaways, or people that otherwise would have no responsibility whatsoever for the "craft" (either the rocket or the station).</blockquote>