4 ms·
> The soon-to-be-astronauts Maybe this is just me, but I think we need a new word for people who pay to take a ride on a spacecraft but have nothing to do with
by ForHackernews 5y ago
> The soon-to-be-astronauts
Maybe this is just me, but I think we need a new word for people who pay to take a ride on a spacecraft but have nothing to do with the operation or mission of that spacecraft. "Payload" seems rude, perhaps "passengers"?
Whatever they are, they're not astronauts.
- detritus 5y agoThe term itself will become meaningless if hundreds, thousands (millions..) of people start lofting into the heavens every year. Fundamentally, these guys have about as much control over their experience as your 'real' astronauts do.
- perilunar 5y agoOr conversely, most 'real' astronauts are also 'just' passengers, and only a few ever pilot a spacecraft. I think "Astronaut" is fine for anyone who's been to space, and "pilot" if you fly the spacecraft.
- Razengan 5y agoBut are all people on a cruise ship sailors?
- detritus 5y agoAre cruise ships on ballistic trajectories and mostly controlled remotely?
- Galaxity 5y agoThey have everything to do with the operation and mission of the spacecraft. They will do as much as NASA astronauts do on dragon spacecraft. I understand the point that the word astronaut is reserved for highly trained individuals working for NASA, but the rants about it I keep seeing online on various forums are just so mean spirited for some reason. Calling them payload, seriously?
- ForHackernews 5y ago> They will do as much as NASA astronauts do on dragon spacecraft. Yes, the ISS crew are mere passengers on SpaceX capsules. Just because I buy a ticket on a 737 doesn't make me an "aeronaut". You can call it mean-spirited if you want, but the point is that some titles should only be earned, not purchased.
- sebazzz 5y agoIf anything they are astronauts. They did the full training, full exercises, everything they need to be able to handle spaceflight.