So are Bezos and Branson Astronauts?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by svandamme

How strong are those spaghetti straps???

Too strong in my mind.

[sc_rufctr]

I just watched Bezos speaking about the launch.
- He sounded like a cowboy and wearing the appropriate hat.

Totally unexpected!

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by svandamme

well, NASA has always called 100km the rule
Even some X15 pilots did that, and got the badge..

The first pioneers that passed it, were considered heroes of their day.. And so I think we have to keep it simple, and just follow the NASA rule

Bezos, by NASA's rule is now an Astronaut
Branson , despite his claim, isn't. he didn't pass 100 km

In my opinion, calling someone an astronaut is about the same as calling some one a driver, swimmer, or a climber.
Other organizations set the bar for "space" higher than NASA.
However, we're in the US.

[svandamme]

Well sure , I'm a driver, but i'm no F1 driver
I can and hav driven same tracks, at speed, reasonably capable.. but still limited

I'm a swimmer, i won't drown, but clearly not going to win any races or swim across any sea channel.

I've never really done any climbing.. other then stairs
I did get very high tho, probably much higher then Beezos and buzz.. but that didn't' make me an astronaut.. there's high and HIIIIIIGH.


I think there's way to much fuss over "not really an astronaut" By Nasa's standards they are.
But he still looks like a prat to me.. the way they landed, the cowboy hat.. the stupid astronaut suits that serve no purpose in what he does.. needing a 2 foot stair to be erected get out t
The rich family folk all gathering to welcome back their funder. and family members. It was like a big party of the Uber Rich
And many folks look up to that behavior like he's some kind of god

I find that waaay more irritating then him being called an astronaut or not.
Maybe if he had taken some random joe schuck along with him rather then some other rich kid who won an expensive raffle It would have made more sense to me.
And instead of that uniform.. show some style or character or whatever by going up dressed like a normal person.. maybe cowboy boots and jeans instead of just the hat.
Be properly extravagant ... shorts and hawaii shirt

[flatbutt]

No...hell no.

[gregpark]

Pioneers yes, astronauts no

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by svandamme

well, NASA has always called 100km the rule
Even some X15 pilots did that, and got the badge..

The first pioneers that passed it, were considered heroes of their day.. And so I think we have to keep it simple, and just follow the NASA rule

Bezos, by NASA's rule is now an Astronaut
Branson , despite his claim, isn't. he didn't pass 100 km

This.

Niel Armstrong and many others piloted an X-15 into space, and got to wear the astronaut symbol on his uniform.

Of course piloting an airplane from the wing of a bomber, into space while powered by a rocket and landing it safely is a bit different than what Blue Horizon did. It is just a ultimate Disney ride. I rode the journey to Mars ride at Disney world, and the ride is amazing, but just a ride.

[Jolly Amaranto]

[berettafan]

The value, i would think, is in finding cheaper, more efficient ways into space and eventually to the moon, etc. So long as our tax dollars aren't funding it i think it's great.

Oops, didn't we find out USPS is subsidizing Amazon? Well ****.

[berettafan]

Oh and those uniforms are the space tourist version of driving gloves.

[Tervuren]

Animals made the round trip to "space and back" even before humans.
Astronauts have functionally been passengers from day one.
Some of them have special training for if things go wrong wit hthe ship.
Others are mission specialists, such as a school teacher.
I'm not sure what the fuss is about.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

This is awesome on so many levels!

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Capitalism in its purest form.

Riding the backs of others all the way to space. The irony is enough to choke on.

The flying pencils are impressive though

[stealthn]

Who cares, it’s good for everyone.

I think Branson must have know when Bezos was going up and moved his date up to “one up him” as all the graphics for the Blue Origin launch had “ First Human Flight” splashed all over the screen.

[svandamme]

Branson did screw up his altimeter tho... missed by quite a distance

[flipper35]

I think the guys that piloted the X-15 to get their Astrowings have a jock strap the size of a hammock compared to someone sitting in an automated rocket chair.

The term is correct for anyone that passes the Karman line just as anyone can go pay for a "driving experience" in a race car is a race care driver at the time.

[masraum]

On a related subject, this is pretty cool.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Comparison_satellite_navigation_orbits.svg

[gregpark]

[island911]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

Trash talking fun eh?

the condensed version

[dennis in se pa]

In their minds they are. That's all that matters to them.