So are Bezos and Branson Astronauts?
 

I heard the Press putting them into that hallowed Category. Buzz is probably rolling over in his grave.

No

Nope, no reentry, sub orbital, doesn't count in my book.

I agreed, but you know the mindset of people these days. Same as now just wearing a Fire and Police uniform, makes them instant heros, even though they may not have done anything hero level. They changed the standard to include like the X-15 run pilots, years ago!.

Up and down? No not even close.

If one can self declare gender and race, why not profession?

They experienced weightlessness. You can do that on the Vomit Comet.

A 90 minute flight.

No.

Laugh all you want. Bezos has confirmed through simple modifications, he can add two spherical fuel cells to the base of his rocket giving him ability to shoot for the moon.

I heard it called the “Phallus 1”.

No.

They're passengers, tourists.

When (if) autonomous flying cars come to be do the people riding in them get wings pinned on their chests??

I'm a commercial pilot by profession, I earn my living by the training I received flying helicopters. Civilian trained. Even though I'm proud of my accomplishments and experience I've never worn aviator's wings because it just doesn't feel quite the same (in my opinion) as the wings worn by military aviators.

Putting Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson in the same category as Alan Shepard and Hoot Gibson is not right.

Land and return? Re-Entry and not burn up?

Laika was more astronaut than Bezos.

“Scrotal Thrust Assist”? Brilliant!

I would say no , but either one could buy Cape Canaveral if they wanted to 😁

I think it's great. Better news story than most of the BS we've seen recently.....IMHO, of course......;)

Buzz is still with us by the way...

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/ulti...ons/icon14.gif

But what would really light people up would be if he got a cat.

And talked about moving his HQ to the Space Needle.

He's an Astronaut in the same way a club racer is a Race Car Driver.